What are Unspoken Gym Rules?
I’ve been a gym owner for nearly a decade, and an Austin personal trainer for over 21 years. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go in the gym. It’s always great to see someone come in for the first time with a heartfelt determination to make some positive changes. A lot of these people, however, are intimidated. This is unfortunate, as it’s not necessary. You just have to know how to navigate. For many newcomers to the gym, there are a few unspoken gym rules to learn and follow, like the rest of us know how to do. They exist virtually in no matter which gym you belong to. My gym has a common sense/courtesy set of rules which we enforce to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone. One is no cell phones on the gym floor. People are there to workout, not hear your phone ringing or you talking on it. We simply ask people to keep the phone on vibrate, and step outside to chat. Gym policies vary from gym to gym, but there are some universal unspoken gym rules that we all should adhere to.
Almost all of the unspoken gym rules revolve around courtesy, but some, for safety. For example, it may not be written into your gym user’s agreement, but it is definitely an unspoken gym rule not to bother people while they’re in the middle of a set. Asking questions, or even making comments to someone who’s hoisting a lot of weight over their heads is a bad idea, and is also very dangerous, for obvious reasons.
Other unspoken gym rules are more of what I call the “excuse me” rules. One big one is to put away whatever weights or equipment you took out to work with. Nobody wants to trip over the dumbbells you are finished working with. Nobody also wants to go looking all over the gym for wherever you left them if they want to use them. Another good one is to clean your sweat off the area you were using. Nobody thinks someone is hardcore or cool because they worked up a great sweat. It’s disgusting to lay or sit in someone else’s sweat. Period. While we’re on the sweat topic, thanks in advance for wearing deodorant and showering regularly!
Another unspoken gym rule is one that should likely be spoken at most gyms. At my gym, in fact, it is spoken when need be. That rule, is no gawking. Some gyms,are definitely meet markets much more than they are places to workout. My gym is not such a place, so we enforce that rule very strictly. Thankfully, it has only happened once or twice in the 9 years that we’ve been open.
A great unspoken gym rule, that you won’t find in the gym manual, so to speak, is to not walk between the mirror, and the person who’s standing in front of it. It’s distracting to whomever was there first, and just plain rude. If they are blocking a set of dumbbells you are wanting to use, for example, simply allow them to complete their set, say excuse me, and get your stuff.
The last unspoken gym rule is to extend to others the same courtesies that you would like to have extended to you. For example, if someone asks you for a spot, take a moment and give them a hand. If someone wants to share a piece of equipment, as in work in with you, say yes. If someone wants the equipment you’re using, but politely declines the offer to work in, preferring to wait, don’t start an in depth round table discussion with your friends at that station while someone else is waiting for you to complete your last set.
Unspoken gym rules are mostly just common sense. If you go by the golden rule of treating others how you wish to be treated, you’ll be just fine. The gym will continue to be a place of positive energy, and we all will have a better day for it.
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Andy
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