The Unwritten Rules of the Gym

Have you heard gym fanatics talk about the unwritten rules they’d never break? We’re about to put them all on the table so you can walk into the gym with nothing but confidence.

Read the Rules of Your Gym

Let’s start off with an easy one. When you first walk into the gym, take a look around for any rules written on the walls or hung up on signs. While there are definite unwritten rules at the gym, there are also a handful written in plain sight, and every gym is different.
Some gyms allow barefoot training, others don’t. Some let you deadlift, others consider this too noisy for other gym goers. So get acquainted with what your local gym allows.

Wipe Down Equipment

Regardless of whether this rule is written on the walls of your gym, it’s common knowledge everywhere that you need to wipe down gym equipment after you use it. Nobody wants to use equipment covered in sweat, so use your gym towel or the paper towel provided at the gym, as well as any disinfectant spray provided, to wipe down all the surfaces you’ve touched before you move onto the next station.

Don’t Block the View

If you’re about to do some weight training or floor exercises, take a look around and make sure you’re not blocking anyone’s view of the mirror. While it might seem like someone is spending too much time checking themselves out instead of working out, most people are giving themselves a good look up and down to make sure their form is in check. If it can be avoided, don’t stand directly in someone else’s line of vision.

Be Nice at the Weights Station

When it comes to lifting weights, there’s a simple rule to follow. As soon as you’ve picked up your dumbbells, move away from the rack. We’ve all seen that one person who starts curling and pressing right in front of the weights station, blissfully unaware that they’re preventing everyone else from picking up their preferred weights. Step back to make sure you’re only monopolising one set at a time.

Don’t Hog Equipment

While there are exceptions to this rule (an almost empty gym being one of them), if you’re using a piece of equipment and it’s the only one at your local gym, be mindful that other people will likely be hoping to use it. So stay off your phone and try to get your workout done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Return Things Properly

One of the most important unwritten rules, is to put equipment back in the right spot once you’re done with it. An organised gym is an effective gym, so do your workout buddies a favour and keep things in order.

To sum things up, if you’re aware of your surroundings and treating the gym equipment, and the people around you with respect, you’ll be golden. If you ever have any questions, ask the personal trainers at your gym. They’ve heard just about everything, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed asking about what’s best practice.