Gym Etiquette

[nscrbug]

I walked out of the gym I was a member of for quite a few years. I went down the road to the Y, joined, and I have now been a member of the Y for over 6 months. My only regret is that I didn't join the Y years ago.

The old gym was small, with one large main room that housed the weights, cardio equipment, stretching area, etc. The owner of the gym started up these group training sessions and put them in the same main room, moved around a lot of equipment to make the space. A group session was a personal trainer with anywhere from two to twelve people learning how to do basic exercises with basic machines, small weights and stretch bands, and the members paid hundreds of dollars each month to participate, so it was a real money maker for the owner of the gym. The reality is that for most of the group members, they stood around and chatted during each training session, never broke a sweat, and it is doubtful if their heart rate went up very much. No gym etiquette was taught to these people, about not talking, respecting the space around other gym members, not talking on the cell phone, wiping down the equipment after use, etc. The noise level inside the gym became unbearable, and pretty much the gym turned into a social recreational outlet for more and more members, rather than as a place to focus on getting fit and healthy.

The final straw for me was when I was on an elliptical doing running intervals, therefore I was doing counts in my head. Several of the females from one of these group training sessions got on treadmills next to me, were gripping the sides of the rails, had the speed set at 1.5 mph, and proceeded to chat with each other at a high volume. I complained to the management and I was told that members have the right to work out as they wish, including talking next to others who were working out.

I walked out, joined the Y, and the Y has signs posted on the walls that there are no cell phones, no talking, respect the rights of others, and other nice signs like that. And there is a weight room with even more signs about replacing equipment, etc. Plus the spin bikes are in good condition so spin class is a joy. It is the smartest thing I did, was to leave the gym that was really about socializing and not working out, and get into the Y that is serious about health and fitness for all ages and socio-economic groups, plus other nice features that I can use if I ever get the time, like the swimming pools, dozens of classes other than spin, etc.

Good grief!!! Are you serious? It's not a library or church, for crying out loud. If my gym enforced a "no talking" rule, they'd have ZERO members. I simply don't agree with nor would I ever adhere to such a silly rule as that. Sure, I think primarily the gym should be a place where one puts focus on getting their workout in, but I don't see why talking cannot have its place there, as well.

[lph]

Well, I don't really go to a gym any more, but when I did attend aerobics class I always got a giggle out of the teenage girl mafia who stormed in as soon as humanly possible to get the very best spots up in front, holding spots for their very best friends with towels and water bottles... and then did the entire class in spotless makeup and without breaking a sweat. And without breaking eye contact with themselves in the mirror.

Funny, I always ended up with more than enough space around me, I tended to be a bit, uh, expansive once I got going

Now I get to gripe about the habits of the co-workers I share showers and a changing room with instead. We have a sort of complicated system because of how the building is designed, so first we have a large shared drying room intended for hanging up jackets, over-trousers, leaving outdoor shoes, bike helmets, other messy stuff that takes space. Then inside each changing room there are two drying racks for towels, and a small drying room intended for under-clothes only. The idea is to keep dirty and wet stuff out of the rather small changing rooms, and to be able to hang damp under-clothing out of "display", as it were. The women seem to have no trouble with this system. The guys however, have filled their entire inner drying room with towels, refuse to use the towel racks, and carry out armfuls of smelly socks and bib shorts and whatnot out to the shared drying room, where the aroma gets to entertain all of us...

[Pax]

lph - you have showers and changing rooms at work? Cool!

[Jolt]

People who don't put things back when they're done, causing others to have to spend extra time looking for equipment or use things that aren't quite right (like a stability ball that's too big b/c somebody has "hidden" the right sized one). Also people who get on the treadmill/bike right next to the one I'm using if it's not crowded and they could get on one where they're NOT right next to someone. Fortunately I don't use the treadmills/bikes very often since I'm usually outside.

[ny biker]

re: singing out loud -- I lip-sync while I'm working out. I assume the other people at the gym think I'm insane for it.

(I sing out loud when I'm riding my bike, but only when no one else is around.)

[lph]

lph - you have showers and changing rooms at work? Cool!

Oh yes The coolest part is I sort of got to be a part of designing them when the building was completely re-done.

[Pax]

Oh yes The coolest part is I sort of got to be a part of designing them when the building was completely re-done.

That's neat! Only place I could shower or change is 1/2 mile away at the gym.

[DarcyInOregon]

Good grief!!! Are you serious? It's not a library or church, for crying out loud. If my gym enforced a "no talking" rule, they'd have ZERO members. I simply don't agree with nor would I ever adhere to such a silly rule as that. Sure, I think primarily the gym should be a place where one puts focus on getting their workout in, but I don't see why talking cannot have its place there, as well.

The Y where I am doesn't allow talking or cell phone use on the cardio floor or in the weight room. It is a big building, three floors, plus wings on each side. The lobby is huge, easily the size of the main room at my old gym, with couches, chairs, tables, and vending machines, and that is where people socialize, plus the Y has social events like dances and game night, where it is about socializing. The cardio floor and weight room is where people work out, each individual's workout is respected, so socializing is not allowed. The silence is pure bliss.

If anyone Google's gym etiquette, there are rules of etiquette posted on the internet that list not chatting in workout areas as one of the rules, and this can be found on multiple sites.

When I am on road trips, I will buy a guest pass and work out at different gyms. The best gyms are the ones with the posted signs, the same ones as at the Y: no talking, no cell phone use, and respect other's workouts.

However there are lots of gyms where it is about socializing, where people do talk while working out, like my old gym, and just goes to show, the market place has a gym for all types of people.

[ny biker]

The Y where I am doesn't allow talking or cell phone use on the cardio floor or in the weight room. It is a big building, three floors, plus wings on each side. The lobby is huge, easily the size of the main room at my old gym, with couches, chairs, tables, and vending machines, and that is where people socialize, plus the Y has social events like dances and game night, where it is about socializing. The cardio floor and weight room is where people work out, each individual's workout is respected, so socializing is not allowed. The silence is pure bliss.

If anyone Google's gym etiquette, there are rules of etiquette posted on the internet that list not chatting in workout areas as one of the rules, and this can be found on multiple sites.

When I am on road trips, I will buy a guest pass and work out at different gyms. The best gyms are the ones with the posted signs, the same ones as at the Y: no talking, no cell phone use, and respect other's workouts.

However there are lots of gyms where it is about socializing, where people do talk while working out, like my old gym, and just goes to show, the market place has a gym for all types of people.

If there's no talking allowed, how are trainers and their clients supposed to communicate with other?

I have no problem with people talking while doing cardio or between sets of weight training. Standing around and taking up space would be another issue.

[DarcyInOregon]

If there's no talking allowed, how are trainers and their clients supposed to communicate with other?

I have no problem with people talking while doing cardio or between sets of weight training. Standing around and taking up space would be another issue.

Trainers have their own rooms and equipment. They are not on the cardio floor or in the weight room.

I should say another thing I like about this Y is there is no loud music blaring over loud speakers, and yet another is that the classrooms for group fitness like Zumba and Pump and Total Body are all sound proofed. And when members break the rules, they have to sit down with an administrator and are reminded of the Y's rules and policies.

Everyone works out differently, and has different fitness and health goals. It is why the no talking and no cell phone usage rules are enforced. What doesn't matter to one person might be really rude to another gym member, and highly distracting. I can tune out most noise, but when it is right next to me I can't focus, and if I am doing intervals with specific counts, it is even more difficult to concentrate with people chatting right next to me. I imagine there are lots of scenarios similar to mine, which is why the policies are in place. I love working out without the distraction of constant noise, it is extremely relaxing, almost yoga-like, and the quality of my workouts have increased since moving to the Y, which means I am more time efficient too.

[Dogmama]

I just joined a gym that has the following sign:

"If you're grunting, you better be in labor"

[nscrbug]

I just joined a gym that has the following sign:

"If you're grunting, you better be in labor"

Now THAT is hilarious! Seeing that sign would put a smile on my face everyday...and I'm one that isn't bothered by grunting.

[Miranda]

Here's my #1...people who won't STFU.

*ahh there I feel slightly better after vomitting that unattractive, but straight-forward, bile out of my system*

I'm an instructor. Spinning is what I teach.

I hate people who will not shut up in class while I am trying to teach (and in general).

Due to some medical issues I can't seem to shake, I'm down to one class at one gym that holds my only option to work-out free (can't afford to pay for membership now). And that class has a problem-child member that has caused me to grow such hatred in my heart at showing up to teach. The managment is an unsupportive joke. So, I've held on for now, with hopes I can figure something else out next season. I have a couple more winter schedule classes to teach before my class is cut for the summer. Really looking forward to that.

Also, there are a couple of those people in the weight room. I can not shake them. As an instructor, it's expected that you are the "up energy", and many times provide the happy entertainment for people. Well, when I'm off the clock, and want to re-charge and take care of myself...I want a break from entertaining people. It's not that I don't love my good members, but I don't get anything done. Thus, I've stopped working out at the gym at all.

*sigh*

Kinda sad situation.

[marni]

I just joined a gym that has the following sign:

"If you're grunting, you better be in labor"

oh amen to that! I love it.