Fitness Club Tips

Best 10 EtiquetteTips for the Newbie

1. Dress for comfort. - Dress in layers when the fitness club is cool, quite often the facility will be quite cool at the start of the day. The best clothing is with material that wicks away sweat. Change your undies as soon as possible to prevent discomfort. Save the jeans, tight or otherwise, for the out of doors. The heavy fabric ruins gym upholstery. Comfortable sweat pants or leggings will be just fine for your workouts. If you have the body for it already and you really want to be a best dressed diva you'll love wearing BLUEFISH SPORT jazzy supplex fitness pants.

2. Newbie exerciser or new to the gym? Ask questions. - The tour or orientation packet may not be thorough enough, or maybe you forgot the information. Equipment settings vary from gym to gym, so ask for help. I'm in the fitness business over twenty years and I ask when in a different facility. I don't want to waste 5 - 10 minutes trying to figure out the elliptical program. You also want to know the fitness club protocol and where things are. Do you sign up for equipment? Is there a waiting list? Do the rules change at peak time? Don't worry; we are used to the questions.

3. Honor the sign up sheet. - You want to be sure that the cardio machine you would like to use is available. Staff can help you get your turn on a desired piece of equipment when you follow protocol. In my years in the business, I have had to nullify some stand-offs over a treadmill because individuals were unaware or inconsiderate. Understand that there may be a structured time slot and time limit during certain times of the day or with the popular piece of equipment.

4. Keep your water bottle handy. - The club's water fountain may not be a convenient proposition when you are on the treadmill when that great thirst overtakes you. Keep your filled water bottle parked in the holders that come with most of these machines so that you can honor your thirst. Otherwise, you may find yourself trekking down one corridor, meandering through another maze of hallways, (oops, the men's locker-room!), and, aww shoot! …you missed your turn on the stepmill.

5. Always have a towel. - The fitness club may not provide towel service or they may be out of supply at certain times. It happens... even in the upscale health clubs. You are going to sweat. If you are exerting any energy, you are going to sweat. If your trainer is worth his or her salt, you ARE going to sweat! And the person exercising near or with you would appreciate it if you didn't drip on them. ;-) Almost forgot, a towel would be useful if you are showering after the workout...

6. Fix your drip. - Speaking of sweat, remember to wipe down the equipment you just used. The fitness clubs have a responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of the facility and you have a shared responsibility to wipe down and clean up after yourself. Who wants to use someone else's drippy, sweaty machine? Yuck. It really is just the right thing to do.

7. Pick up a little "gym speak". - Do you know the difference between a "rep" and a "set"? A band is not a rubber band as you know it. Get with an instructor or training staff to know and understand some of the workout lingo. Just using a few of the terms will make you feel seasoned and smart.

8. De-clutter your workout space. - Remember the expression: A place for everything and everything in it’s' place? Practice good fitness club etiquette by putting the weights back in their proper space. No one likes to have to hunt for the pair of dumbbells they want to use, right? And, no one wants to trip over a pair left on the floor. Yes, the trainers do have to put weights away, its part of the job, but cleaning up the free weights after 20 or 30 careless people is not the workout we enjoy.

9. Be time efficient and share. - Instead of tying up a machine during your rest between sets, allow someone to "work in". You may wind up maximizing the workout because the rest periods will be timed as the two of you are alternating. Who knows, you may even discover a workout buddy. And by all means, remember Tip #6!!

10. Be a regular 'gym bunny'. - Use your gym often; it's good to have a regular pattern of usage. Your body benefits from the frequent activity. Establish a positive connection with staff and other members. When your face is familiar you tend to get a little more attention. People get to know you by name. You are using your health club often and your input or comments tend to get a bit more consideration. That's just the way it is.

Now 'fit diva in training', you are armed and ready with an arsenal of tips to help make your fitness club experience a good one. Keep me posted on your progress and experiences. I'd love to read your comments on my Blog or the Fitness-Diva-Knows group page on Facebook.

Return to Home Page from Fitness Club Tips.

Home Nutrition Products Blog Testimonials Contact