What etiquette should you know when going to a gym?
View hidden comment
This post was sourced from submitted reader questions and posted by wikiHow Editorial Staff.
wikiHow forums are moderated for quality. Learn more about our moderation policy here.
Submit Answer
Gym etiquette is fairly universal. One of the most important things to know is that it’s extremely common and good etiquette to ask another gym patron how many sets they have remaining, if they seem to be taking a long time with a piece of equipment you are trying to use. You can simply say, “How many sets do you have left?” If they reply with a high number of sets, you can say “Can I work in with you? “ or “Can you let me know when you’re finished?”, and point out where they can find you.
In addition, it’s proper etiquette to always wipe down any equipment you have used. It’s appropriate to use one machine at a time until you have completed using it. Using more than one machine at the same time is frowned upon, unless there are a few other gym goers present. Correcting other people‘s form is also frowned upon.
View hidden comment
In addition, it’s proper etiquette to always wipe down any equipment you have used. It’s appropriate to use one machine at a time until you have completed using it. Using more than one machine at the same time is frowned upon, unless there are a few other gym goers present. Correcting other people‘s form is also frowned upon.
Follow these rules of etiquette when you're at the gym:
View hidden comment
- Be mindful that your attire is not distracting to others and it's not calling unnecessary attention to you.
- Make sure that your shoes are actually for the gym or that they're an indoor gym shoe. Don’t wear your outside shoes inside.
- Use the towels provided by the gym or bring one with you and place it on the areas and on the equipment where your skin is touching the equipment and where you're likely to sweat.
- Clean the equipment. The equipment that you're working out on should be in the same condition as when you found it before you used it.
- Use headphones. If you forgot your headphones, put your phone on mute or mute the videos and just watch videos with subtitles. No one wants to hear whatever you're watching.
- Don’t monopolize the equipment. If it's a busy time in the gym, move on.
- Everyone should be standing outside each other's personal or social space at the gym.
- If you want to talk to someone, whether to make a comment or ask a question, wait until their set is over.
Number one thing, don't sit on a machine or use up a bunch of weights, and just be sitting on your smartphone texting. That is one of the absolute rudest things you can do. Get your workout done, get in and out. One of the things I love about the gym that I'm at is that cell phones aren't allowed on the floor. So if you want to talk, you can go out to the lobby, that's fine, but no cell phones on the floor because you're on the floor to work out.
Two, wipe down everything you use. There are wipes at every gym. Make sure that you're wiping down all the sweat, and use those sanitation wipes because nobody wants your germs.
Three, nobody wants your advice unless they ask for it. So, while there are a lot of guys that want to approach girls and tell them what they should be doing in order to get a better exercise or lift, if they didn't ask for it, leave them alone unless they're doing an exercise that looks like it's going to hurt them. If it's a safety issue, then I'll go and I'll talk to the person, but if it's not, leave the person alone, let them work out.
And then last, share equipment. That's a huge one. Just because you're using the lat pull-down machine or the assisted pull-up machine and you're on it, doesn't mean another person can't jump on the machine with you while you're resting in between sets. So always be prepared to share your exercise equipment.
View hidden comment
Two, wipe down everything you use. There are wipes at every gym. Make sure that you're wiping down all the sweat, and use those sanitation wipes because nobody wants your germs.
Three, nobody wants your advice unless they ask for it. So, while there are a lot of guys that want to approach girls and tell them what they should be doing in order to get a better exercise or lift, if they didn't ask for it, leave them alone unless they're doing an exercise that looks like it's going to hurt them. If it's a safety issue, then I'll go and I'll talk to the person, but if it's not, leave the person alone, let them work out.
And then last, share equipment. That's a huge one. Just because you're using the lat pull-down machine or the assisted pull-up machine and you're on it, doesn't mean another person can't jump on the machine with you while you're resting in between sets. So always be prepared to share your exercise equipment.
What’s on your mind? Ask anything.
Get advice and feedback from experts and wikiHow readers just like you.
Ask a Question
