Spring Break
Gym etiquette
Manners and common sense practices for fitness centers
Michael Griffin
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Pulse
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Media Credit: Anthony YoonIt is important to use proper lifting techniques when you're at the gym ? not only for personal safety, but also for the sake of others around you.
Going to the gym can be an intimidating experience. You may not feel comfortable with yourself or your abilities and may even worry that everyone is watching, just waiting to see you make a mistake. These are normal feelings, and as a certified personal trainer who has been exercising for well over 10 years, I can attest to the fact that these and other partial feelings of inferiority are near universal for any gym-goer.
However, there are stated and unstated rules of etiquette and advice that, when followed, make the gym-going experience that much more enjoyable for you and your fellow gym members. They are:
Proper form: Whether you've been lifting weights for years or are completely new to the scene, exercising with proper form is fundamental to attaining your goals in a safe, timely fashion. Most fitness centers, including the campus facility, have on-staff personal trainers that can assist you in learning proper lifting techniques, so there should be no barrier between you and a safe, effective workout.
Weights and noise: Slamming weights down and making excessive noise are probably the two most juvenile things one could do and will see when in the gym. This usually occurs when a guy wants to show off or has used too heavy a weight. Typically loud grunting, screaming, or chest-pounding will precede dropping the weights, with him looking around afterward to see if anybody saw how cool he was. To avoid being an annoying meathead, use the proper amount of weight for the lift, don't slam the weights around, restrict grunting or other noises to the final heavy set, and return the weights to their original place in the gym. This will assure you no evil stares from properly behaving members.
Hygiene: Apparently some people have not realized that when they don't bathe, wear deodorant, or wash their gym clothes they stink an ungodly smell. This is especially nauseating if you are running on the treadmill or performing some other stationary exercise for an extended period of time while Stinky is right next to you. Don't be that person-wear deodorant, bathe regularly, and wash your gym attire daily.
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However, there are stated and unstated rules of etiquette and advice that, when followed, make the gym-going experience that much more enjoyable for you and your fellow gym members. They are:
Proper form: Whether you've been lifting weights for years or are completely new to the scene, exercising with proper form is fundamental to attaining your goals in a safe, timely fashion. Most fitness centers, including the campus facility, have on-staff personal trainers that can assist you in learning proper lifting techniques, so there should be no barrier between you and a safe, effective workout.
Weights and noise: Slamming weights down and making excessive noise are probably the two most juvenile things one could do and will see when in the gym. This usually occurs when a guy wants to show off or has used too heavy a weight. Typically loud grunting, screaming, or chest-pounding will precede dropping the weights, with him looking around afterward to see if anybody saw how cool he was. To avoid being an annoying meathead, use the proper amount of weight for the lift, don't slam the weights around, restrict grunting or other noises to the final heavy set, and return the weights to their original place in the gym. This will assure you no evil stares from properly behaving members.
Hygiene: Apparently some people have not realized that when they don't bathe, wear deodorant, or wash their gym clothes they stink an ungodly smell. This is especially nauseating if you are running on the treadmill or performing some other stationary exercise for an extended period of time while Stinky is right next to you. Don't be that person-wear deodorant, bathe regularly, and wash your gym attire daily.
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