Surprisingly, pools, gyms and exercise rooms remain such a place for many visitors for a long time. The fact is that instructors explain how to use the equipment and show where the showers are, but far from always tell about all the subtleties of behavior in the gym.
That is why clubs have unwritten rules, which can be called etiquette. Some of them are explained by experienced customers to newcomers, others have to learn on their own bumps. Remember 10 simple rules of conduct in the fitness room to feel comfortable in it from the first day.
Equipment and clothes
Choose your equipment and clothing carefully. No one is forcing you to buy the entire latest collection, the main thing here: relevance, convenience and comfort. Each sport has its own clothing and shoes. For example, running shoes will not be suitable for exercises with a barbell. The right outfit will not only contribute to better results, but also will save you from the astonished looks and give you a sense of self-confidence, and you’d better save your evening clothes for the trips to restaurants, clubs and casinos.
Time to exercise
Do not occupy the gym for long periods of time. Approaches to one piece of equipment does not take much time, so do the exercises – leave. Often exercisers have a bad habit of resting on the simulator between approaches, and if they go away from it, they leave their towel or water bottle: “I’m here. Other visitors perceive these signs as such, not daring to take a seat. In order not to earn a bad reputation and not to make others wait, immediately release the shells.
Hygiene
Be sure to wipe down any equipment after yourself – trainers, dumbbells, barbell bars and “bikes”. This rule of club etiquette has not yet caught on everywhere, so set a positive example for others. By the way, disinfectant wipes may have to be brought with you. Both you and other visitors will enjoy sitting on a clean, dry exercise bike saddle.
Planning and Timing
Try to calculate the time to get to the club and not to be late for training. This is especially true for classes in a group: your companions have time to warm up and start the main program, you will have to catch up with them the whole class. Without a full-fledged warm-up you might not be allowed to the power workout at all, and if you attend yoga classes you run the risk of disturbing someone’s meditation.
Phones
Phone conversations during class are definitely bad form. For the duration of your workout, your smartphone is nothing more than a player, timer or pedometer. Turn off communication for at least one hour and put your gadget on silent mode so you don’t get distracted or disturb others. Solving important issues on the phone on a treadmill is accepted only in Hollywood movies, in reality, it is completely inappropriate. An interesting fact: in some casino clubs there is a government ban on cell phones.
Duties of a coach
Try not to distract other visitors with conversations and advice. If you see that someone performs an exercise incorrectly, leave the right to intervene to a professional trainer – surely he noticed it too. Of course, this does not apply to traumatic situations, when a warning is quite appropriate. If, however, you yourself feel that something has gone wrong, do not hesitate to ask for help from the coach or those around you.
Mirrors
Mirrors in the gym are common, and jocks do not just stand in front of them and admire themselves. Do not block them – seeing your reflection is necessary for self-control and honing the correct technique, which is very important. Try not to stop near the mirrors, and better generally bypass the hall from the side of the walls.
Sounds
Don’t be frightened or intimidated. Even if you are a beginner at the “gym” you will get used to the roar of the iron quite quickly and will stop jumping up every time you get scared. But etiquette tells us that spectacularly dropping the barbell from your height on the last approach is not just dangerous. It really scares people around you and is distracting at the very least. Work on yourself, not in public!
Politeness
Politeness is your everything. It doesn’t matter what purpose people come to the fitness club for, their main desire is to get better. Everyone here is interested in being friendly and respectful to each other, it is said for a reason that athletes are a big family, even when they are competing against each other. Leave your bad moods outside as well: you will see, after a good workout they will disappear altogether.
Ergonomics
Don’t sit long in the locker room. They can be quite crowded during rush hours. Try to take as little space as possible on the benches and immediately put extra things and bags into the stall. The same applies to showers: give yourself a total relaxation with SPA-treatments after the workout, but at home. In the fitness club you can quickly tidy up and let the others do the same.
If you follow these simple rules, you will easily feel comfortable in any fitness club and will definitely earn yourself respect. Tell them to your friends who are inspired by your example and decide to keep you company!