The gym can be a very intimidating place for newbies. So I thought I would take a minute to put down a few tips that will make the gym more welcoming. Here are a few do's and don'ts that we can employ to make the gym a friendlier place. DO: try all of the various pieces of equipment in you gym. You'll quickly realize that certain pieces of equipment are better for certain exercises. Different types of equipment will also provide variety and different types of intensity to your favorite exercises.
DON'T: be the person that takes out 18 pieces of equipment and then leaves them all on the floor. Nobody likes that person. NOBODY. If you take out a piece of equipment, return it to where you got it from. This includes re-racking your weights.
DO: walking lunges, sled pushes/drags and loaded carries.
DON'T: do them across the main gym floor where you're threatening to take out the guy who's not paying attention because he's trying to impress the girl on the bench next to his. Or even worse you could become the victim of someone who cuts across your path while you're carrying those 70lb kettlebells. Find an empty secluded part of gym and get carried away. (See what I did there?)
DO: remember that sharing is caring. If you're not using dumbbell at the moment and someone asks to borrow it, let them. Just make sure to POLITELY let them know that you'll need it back.
DON'T: just walk over and pick up a piece of equipment that someone has obviously taken out for a reason. POLITELY (hopefully you're noticing a theme) ask the person you can borrow the equipment while they are between sets. If he/she isn't there wait a few seconds before you just walk away with what you want.
DO: workout with intensity. Leave your magazines, newspapers, e-readers and any other reading devices in the locker room. If you're able to read and comprehend then you're probably not working hard enough. The same goes for watching TV on cardio machines.
DON'T: be the person screaming, grunting, "whooing" (there used to be a lady in my gym that would "whoo" while she was on the elliptical; we called her the "whoo lady") or throwing down dumbbells. I get it sometimes you need to grunt loudly to get that last rep or two. That shouldn't be happening on every rep of a set of 1o. Remember you're not the only one in the gym, again be POLITE.
DO: make sure your surroundings are clear of people and hazards before you start your set.
DON'T: walk aimlessly in front of someone doing kettlebell swings, or any exercise for that matter. This is not only annoying, but it's dangerous. Dangerous for you and the person doing the exercise. I'm only half joking when I tell my clients, "I'd rather you hit him with the kettlebell than hurt yourself trying not to hit him." So if you do get hit by someone doing an exercise, POLITELY apologize and say it was your fault.
Feel free to comment with some other gym do's and don'ts that need to be pointed out. Also feel free to share with the gym goer you know that breaks all of these rules.
