7 Reasons No One Likes You at the Gym
Sweatiquette 101
Gyms these days. If you haven't stepped a sneakered foot in one in a while, we'll forgive you. But unless you brush up on your fitness facility formalities, your soon-to-be fellow patrons might not. From protocols for snapping fitspirational selfies to locker room decorum, "things have changed nowadays," says Josh Leve, CEO and founder of the Association of Fitness Studios. Here's how not to behave if you want to be welcomed back:
1. You're a tardy Marty.
Showing up late to a group fitness class isn't just a distraction to your fellow aerobicizers, it's a risk to your safety since you may miss the warmups and the chance to tell your instructor about any injuries. If you know you'll be more than 10 minutes late -- or have to leave more than 10 minutes early -- "I suggest you find something else to do for that day," says Victor Price, assistant group exercise director at the YMCA Anthony Bowen in the District of Columbia.
2. You're a hog.
Circuit training is in. Sitting on exercise machines in between sets is not. "Way too often, people prevent others from using a piece of equipment by not removing their rear ends from the machine once they've completed their set," says Kevin B. White, a certified personal trainer and fitness consultant in Bethesda, Maryland. Instead, "pay attention to the culture and go with the flow," Price says, by asking others if you can "work in" to their rotation. Then, find a consistent time to go to the gym -- the less busy, the better.
3. You're selfie-absorbed.
If you're spending more time posing for your Instagram followers than pumping iron, expect eye-rolls, Leve says. Cellphone policies vary between gyms, but "you also have to think about the other people who are in the picture -- then it's a privacy thing," he adds. Keeping your cellphone tucked away is also your safest bet in locker rooms. "If someone walked in ... with a digital camera around their neck, I'm sure you would feel uneasy," White says. "Today, the cellphone is no different."
4. You're a know-it-all.
Maybe you could teach that dude how to do a better dead row, or perhaps that chick's pushup style is making you cringe. But unless you're a certified fitness professional on staff, it's not your place to butt in, Leve says. Plus, "no one likes a know-it-all," and few enjoy having their workouts interrupted, Price says. If you see someone who may hurt himself, Leve advises alerting a personal trainer or manager, who should be up-to-date on how best to keep clients safe.
5. You're rude to the wrong people.
Got a problem with your last gym bill? Think something was stolen during a visit? In most gyms it's OK to take your complaints to the front desk staff -- who should forward the issue to the appropriate person or department -- but don't take your anger out on them, Leve pleads. "They don't really have anything to do with it, but they're unfortunately the first line of defense."
6. You stink.
Leve has heard of gyms that send anonymous emails to members reported to wreak of body odor. When he managed gyms, his approach was gentler -- telling the sweater that members have complained and offering the facility's laundry service. Avoid either consequence and wash your clothes every time after you go to the gym. Oh, and that trend to train barefoot? Just say no. "No one wants your foot sweat or fungus or any other grossness on them -- and [it's] unsafe," says Price's colleague, Tiffany Cunin, the YMCA's regional director of group exercise. Try shoes made for barefoot-style training instead.
7. You leave a trace.
The old rule of camping -- leave no trace -- applies to gym culture as well. That means returning free weights to their allotted spots and removing and restacking plates from machines like leg presses. It also means putting used towels in bins, throwing away razors and wiping down equipment after use. "No one wants to plop down on your sweat," White says. And please, don't chew gum. It could either choke you -- or wind up on the floor. Needless to say, Leve adds, "It can be a sticky situation."
