The gym is a shared space where people come to lift, sweat, sprint, and occasionally question their life choices between sets. To make this communal experience a pleasant one, a few unspoken-yet-essential rules should be followed. These aren’t commandments, but they’re close. Let’s get into it.
1. Re-Rack Your Weights
If you lifted it, you can return it. Leaving dumbbells strewn across the floor doesn’t make the gym look hardcore; it makes it look like a toddler's playroom with heavier consequences.
Why It Matters:
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Keeps the gym safe and organized.
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Saves others from the scavenger hunt.
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Shows you weren’t raised by wolves.
Pro Tip: Lifting weights builds muscle. Re-racking them builds character.
2. Stay Clean, Stay Considerate.
Gyms are where gains are made, and if you’ve got good hygiene to complement them, you’re the complete package!
Best Practices:
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Wear deodorant. Please.
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Bring a towel, and use it!
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Wash your hands. Has Covid taught you nothing?
Pro Tip: If your gym towel isn’t pulling its weight, it’s time for a better towel. (We might know one.)
3. Don’t Interrupt Mid-Set
If someone is lifting something heavy and looks mildly possessed, it’s probably not the right time to ask, “How many sets do you have left?”
Why It Matters:
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Breaks in focus can break form. Respecting focus is gym currency.
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You wouldn’t talk to someone mid-sprint, would you? Same idea.
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Nobody likes being ambushed mid-deadlift.
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether to approach, don’t. Wait until the weights are down.
4. Keep Noise Levels in Check
Effort sounds are part of the gym. A full-blown action movie soundtrack is not.
What’s Okay:
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The occasional grunt when pushing hard.
What’s Not:
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Sounding like you’re auditioning for a dramatic opera with every rep.
Pro Tip: Save the primal roars for personal bests—or the wilderness.
5. Don’t Hog the Equipment
This one’s simple: the gym is shared. Machines aren’t reserved. If you’re resting, keep it short. If you’re scrolling, move aside.
Things to Keep in Mind:
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Don’t linger on machines longer than necessary.
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Cardio machines aren’t for marathons during peak hours.
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Offer to alternate, it’s not complicated.
Pro Tip: Unless your name’s on the equipment, don’t treat it like reserved seating.
To Sum It Up:
Gym etiquette isn’t about rules for the sake of rules. It’s about creating a space where everyone—from the first-timer to the old-timer—can get after. Just train like you respect yourself and the people around you.
Quick Recap:
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Re-rack your weights.
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Keep things clean.
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Let people finish their sets in peace.
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Keep the grunts reasonable.
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Don’t camp on equipment.
Train hard. Stay sharp. And don’t be that person.
