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With the start of a New Year, gyms and fitness centres have seen an increase in their number of memberships. ABC News states that the sales of gym membership increase between 30-40% in January alone. For those who vow to hit the gym in the New Year, the gym might be seen as a very intimidating new venture to undertake, especially if you are new to training and are unaware of the unspoken gym protocol. Below are some guidelines that can help you brave your first trip to the gym and make you feel right at home with the machines and the veterans.
- Don’t Use the Change Room as Your Personal Closet: Spreading out your bags, clothes, and shoes everywhere is a surefire way to annoy your fellow gym members. You don’t need to huddle in the corner to get changed but you need to be aware of the other people and whether you are hogging all the space.
- Don’t Smell: Obviously we are all the gym to work out, but there is no need to try and overcompensate with cologne or perfume. It’s a workout not a date. On the other hand, make sure you have clean workout attire and don’t have excessively bad body odor.
- Re-Rack Your Weights: This is probably one of the most bothersome things that occurs at the gym. We are all there to workout but our fitness regime does not include putting away weights that were used by another member. Nothing is worse than getting to the machine you want to use and having to unload a bunch of plates off it. If you can lift it, you can put it back! Same goes for dumbbells as no one wants to trip over the weights that were left in the middle of the floor.
- Clean Up Your Sweaty Bench: There’s nothing more bothersome than sitting in someone’s sweat puddle. The gym places paper towels and sanitizer at various locations around the work-out areas to make it easy to clean up after yourself. Make sure to wipe the machines down after you’re done with your workout. Even if you think no one is watching; we are and we see you!
Ask yourself this question the next time you forget to wipe the sweat off of your dumbbells (Image: www.thefitnessgrail.wordpress.com)
- Don’t Take a Nap on a Machine: Everyone knows that you need to take breaks in between your sets, but an excessively long break can be annoying to other gym members. The fitness centre is a communal area and you should try to be aware of other members. Don’t rush through your workout but taking a 20 minute nap in between your sets is not going to benefit anyone.
- Be Courteous Towards Others: Whether you are there to prepare for a fitness competition or to just be a healthier version of you, everyone should be treated with respect. The gym can be a scary environment for some people. Simply having a smile on your face during your workout can make spending time at the gym pleasant, bearable, and much less intimidating.
- Wipe your Gymnastics Rings: If your gym has gymnastics rings or calisthenics rings, make sure to wipe them down after using them. This will reduce the chances of others slipping off and improve their grip. This is especially important if you use chalk on your hands while training on rings.
Remember, everyone has to start their fitness journey somewhere! Don’t be intimidated by the weights or machines. Eventually, the protocol will be second nature to you and the gym will become your second home.
