Learning to Share and Wear Deodorant: Tips for Gym Etiquette

Posted May 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Caroline Shannon

Section: Her Fitness, Her Health, Her Motivation

Going to the gym is just like a solo run on a quiet trail; that is, if going for a jog on a well-trodden, dirt path means waiting in line for the next gal to finish her workout and the fragrances of nature include the inhalation of excess CoCo Chanel perfume.

OK, so sweating it out in the great outdoors is really nothing like going to a gym, a place where fluorescent lighting and excess body odor can pretty easily trump anything that is reminiscent of fresh air.

But there is a way to make the gym an enjoyable place to pump some iron and burn off last night’s chocolate cake. And while much of that responsibility may fall in the hands of the facility itself, gym-goers can also help to make the atmosphere a little more Mother Nature and a little less Sweaty Armpit.

Here are four tips for gym etiquette. Read ‘em, learn ‘em and write ‘em on your bicep before your next gym outing:

1. Ladies, Take Turns – Women (and men) who do not share gym equipment are my number one pet peeve when I go to the gym. Last week, I stood for fifteen minutes waiting for a girl to get off a treadmill that very clearly displayed a 30-minute time limit when other people are waiting to use the equipment. She actually saw me standing there, and still chose to tack on fifteen minutes to her already 30-minute jog. Hence, the reason I run outside. Anyway, the point is that cardio machines, in addition to free weights, benches and circuit training equipment, must be shared. If you are waiting for someone to finish using equipment, wait for her to finish a set, and then ask if you can work in between sets, while she is resting. If it is cardio equipment you are waiting for, asking between huffs and puffs can be a bit tough, but try to let the person know you are waiting by standing near – but not too close – to her machine.

2. Clean off the machines – While we are on the subject of sharing, the next rule that seems likely to follow would be one that reminds gym bunnies to clean off their equipment. The thing to keep in mind here is that you barely want to sit in your own sweat let alone someone else’s. So, use the “you get what you give” rule and wipe down a machine when you are finished using it.

3. Stop being so smelly – We are talking about the good and the bad smells here, girls. Not only should you make sure that your workout gear is washed on a regular basis, but it is also important that you limit strong perfumes when getting ready for a sweat session. No one wants to be breathing in odors of any sort when trying to lunge and squat!

4. Shhh! – We understand that there is going to be some social interactions when you put a bunch of people in a sweat box, but it is important to keep in mind that most people are there to achieve various fitness goals. So, put your cell phone on vibrate and keep conversations in your 1-inch voices, gals. What’s more, try not to noisily handle equipment. For example, dropping a dumbbell with a loud bang on the floor is not pleasant sounding for people working out nearby. So, keep noises to a minimum – other people will thank you for it.

Keep all of these rules in mind, and others will – hopefully – follow in your footsteps. That way, the only thing you’ll be able to leave the gym complaining about will be that creepy guy who won’t stop staring at your bum when you are on the treadmill!