8 Fitness Rules for Gym Goers to Never Ever Forget

The rules in gyms and fitness centers are straightforward to follow. You must clean up your mess, respect space and time (for others and yourself), and do your best. The ability to adapt and navigate around people and equipment is helpful. Most of these fitness rules are easy to keep and follow to ensure everyone has a positive experience at the gym. Whether training is new or you are returning from a training hiatus, here is a good citizen checklist to help you create positive behaviors.

Fitness Rule #1: Be deliberate about equipment use.

Most people have a specific amount of time allotted for the gym. Set the goal of completing a fixed amount of work within a specified time window to be intentional about movements. It will set an efficient tone for training. Once you add a plan, it eliminates the guesswork and opportunity for distractions. Eliminate further distractions by putting the phone down, turning up the music (in your headphones), and focusing on the right behaviors. Sure, some workouts require long rest periods. Be courteous and let others "work in" or share the equipment. Do it, because you'll have your moment when you'll need to work in, too! Bottom line: get in and get out! 

Fitness Rule #2: Do not ask mid-set to "work in" with another gymgoer.

It's polite to wait for one to finish a set before asking to share equipment. There's nothing worse than working to raise a heavy-ass weight, and you're clearly trying to make it happen. Nevertheless, gym bro comes over mid-push to ask, "Hey, bro, can I jump in when you're done?!" As you learn to increase your training focus, you'll see how frustrating it is to have that focus broken. Don't disrupt someone's flow before you really have to. It's hard to ask someone to share after you crash-land into one of their sets. 

Fitness Rule #3: Don't try to converse with someone wearing headphones.

There are MULTIPLE reasons to wear headphones to the gym. Most people like the headspace it puts you in for training. Press play on your favorite playlist or podcast. You'll reap the benefit of exercising to music that pushes you and keeps a steady pace. It also helps drown out bad gym music and people who would otherwise talk your head off.

Fitness Rule #4: Keep your advice to yourself.

If you're a beginner at physical training and want to lend a new tip- keep the advice to yourself. If you're an intermediate athlete and see something janky- keep it to yourself! If you're a licensed personal trainer with years of experience, and another lifter's deadlift can use form correction- MYOB! I'm guilty of breaking this rule if I see someone who could really hurt themselves. I won't let it happen. However, the day I see someone using the cable machine for aerial training AND performing the moves with conviction (like Rule #1), I won't bother, and neither should you. Somehow it is deliberate, and they learned it somewhere, so find a way to not stare (see Rule #4).

Fitness Rule #5: Keep the noise down.

Sounds in the gym are pretty abrasive and overwhelming as it stands. There's a lot of clanging and banging, and the sounds of struggle are everywhere! You may join a gym that encourages you to scream and holler. I'm talking about the ones where you hear loud grunting and back-slapping and see hardcore and abstract workouts. That's all cool; however, the natural sound of moving weights and maximum effort isn't horrifying to casual lifters. Most people are not used to a heavy lifting environment, so please refrain from taking hardcore workouts to the average fitness facility. 

Fitness Rule #6: Do not expect people in a busy gym to stay out of your video shot.

It's hard to take selfies and videos in a busy place, and the gym is no different. Could you imagine if a few ants in the colony paused to admire their work? Unfortunately, it isn't the place for things to stop for people to capture selfies. Likewise, it's unlikely that you'll be able to keep others out of your shots and video. Finding less busy times will help, but don't forget Rule #1. I wasn't talking about purposefully taking selfies and setting up to shoot fitness videos.

Fitness Rule #7: Put equipment back where it belongs.

Not doing this can literally and figuratively get you hurt in the gym. Stepping on a dumbbell or other weight is dangerous and can lead to an injury. Leaving equipment around for others to clean up may result in injury, too! Not re-racking your weights is a quick way to start a problem, so pick up. It's consistently a top gym pet peeve according to any ranking list in the universe. Google it. Cleaning up after yourself is Gym Etiquette 101. Take an extra moment and put the equipment back in its proper place regardless of where you found it. Plus, if moving heavy weight is the objective, shouldn't putting it back be a part of the assignment?

Fitness Rule #8: Wipe down the equipment after use.

The gym was already a little suspect before Covid, and in my eyes, it tripled after. Be responsible and clean your sweat from the equipment and spaces you use. Bring a towel to wipe your sweat. There are tons of germs and bacteria in shared fitness spaces, and I mention it to inform, not to scare. I saw this guy on a cruise ship banging out pushups. I was impressed, but I broke RULE #4 and couldn't stop staring. I was mortified by the sweat he left on the floor... during the exercise and after he left it there. It takes a few extra moments to wipe down machines and equipment. Facilities provide stations housing antibacterial sprays or wipes. If they don't have any, run! I'm serious.

Everyone is guilty of breaking at least one of these fitness rules. The goal is to keep the rules in mind and let them help you to be responsible members of the fitness community. Be decent and respectful, be attentive to the space around you, and be mindful of the shared resources. Our behavior during training affects how others train around us more than we know. Did I leave anything out? What fitness rules do you see get broken in the gym? Sound off! Leave a comment below, and thank you for sharing!