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Submitted by: V. Berba Velasco
Say youve got a dozen sweaty people maybe more crammed into a single workout room. Theyre all competing for the same equipment. If youre one of these guys, what can you do to avoid unduly inconveniencing to anyone else? Here are a few simple tips.
Keep conversations to a minimum
Remember that people are there to work out, not to exhange small talk. A few words of conversation are okay, but people generally dont welcome extended conversations from strangers. This is especially true when theyre lifting weights, as experienced gym rats typically rest for only a minute or so between sets.
What if youre doing cardio work instead? Inexperienced gym users may find themselves becoming bored after a few minutes on the elliptical trainers, treadmills, or exercise bikes. At that point, they may decide to chat up the person next to them. What they dont realize is that many gym members dont welcome this intrusion, especially since a heavy cardio workout can demand intense concentration.
Its especially tempting when the other person has a book or a magazine in front of them. After all, Say, whatcha reading? seems like a perfectly innocent way to start a conversation. Dont do it. If theyve got a book or a magazine open, its because theyre interested in reading, not in making small talk. Dont bother them.
No loud conversations
If you do decide to converse with someone, keep your voices to a moderate level. Trust me; nobody wants to hear you talking loudly across a room. As I said, working out often requires concentration, and loud conversations tend to be both distracting and annoying.
If youre both working out at opposite ends of the room, please wait until youre done with your workouts, or until youre both resting between sets. Then you can chat with each other from a moderate distance.
No darned profanity
Ive seen it happen far too often. A bunch of guys run into each other at the gym, and before you know it, theyre hurling the S-word and the F-bomb all over the place.
Be better than that. Please remember that the gym is a public place, not a private sanctuary. You never know who will be walking by or even if the other people around you would appreciate hearing such language. Whats more, the excessive use of foul language in public tends to reinforce certain negative stereotypes about athletes and other exercise enthusiasts.
Watch for visual cues
Instead of just chillin’ on the same machine in between sets, experienced gym rats will often walk away from the equipment theyre using for a minute or so. They do this to promote blood circulation, and maybe evento burn a few calories. Often, they leave a towel or water bottle behind as a sign that they are still using that machine.
In such situations, its best to ask this person if you can squeeze a set in, especially if you see a telltale towel or bottle by the machine.
No lounging!
Some of the most aggravating people at the gym are the ones who sit around on benches or the machines for extended periods. A few of them will even show up in jeans or other street clothes, just playing around. Some of them might indeed be working out, but then theyll sit around for five minutes or so, chatting with their friends. Dont be that type of person. Dont hog the equipment, especially if youre not using it in earnest.
As I said, experienced exercise enthusiasts know that walking around for a while can make their workouts more effective. Moreover, it also gives other people a chance to get some exercise in as well. And if youd rather not walk around, for fear that someone else will jump in, then keep your rest periods short. 60 seconds is usually plenty of time to rest, especially when youre not working with extra-heavy weights.
There is more that can be said about proper gym etiquette certainly more than can be covered in a brief article. Still, these simple guidelines alone can help make your workout experience more pleasant for everyone.
About the Author: V B Velasco Jr. works for a small biotechnology firm (
immunospot.com
,
elispot.co.jp
,
elispot-analyzers.de
). He also does cardio work and resistance training on a regular basis.
Source:
isnare.com
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