Buzz
We’re in the peak season for gym-goers. Many of those who made New Year's resolutions are still hitting the gym, and regulars who preferred quieter hours at the start of the year are returning to their usual routines. So how do you move around a packed gym without disrupting others—or being rude to someone unintentionally blocking your workout? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Mind the Space of Others
Because of the basic principles of physics and space, you’re bound to occupy a specific area when working out. In a busy gym, however, available space is limited. This means you must be mindful of your position and aware of others while selecting your workout spot.
For example: If you’re doing dumbbell lateral raises, which require you to extend your arms to the sides, make sure you aren’t accidentally swinging them into someone’s face. Even if you’re fairly confident you won’t hit the person on the bench beside you, they still might not be thrilled by your hands flying close to their face.
So, be mindful of others’ personal space. And also consider their line of sight. While it’s difficult to track where everyone’s eyes are, here are a few basic considerations:
Don’t walk in front of someone who’s using the mirror.
Don’t position yourself directly in front of a weight rack; take a few steps back before using the dumbbells.
Avoid walking in front of someone performing a barbell lift like squats or deadlifts (people usually focus on a distant point).
If possible, don’t start working out right next to someone when there’s space to keep a little more distance.
Don’t leave your belongings in the way
The same rules about personal space apply to your belongings. Don’t place your things too close to anyone else, and never just drop your bag in the middle of the floor. Keep it next to you, or out of the way by the wall, or tuck it under your bench. If you have more than a couple of items, think about leaving anything you don’t really need in a locker.
Avoid using benches or other gym equipment as personal storage for your items. If there’s an empty bench next to yours and the gym isn’t crowded, you can place your water bottle there. However, if those are the only benches available, it’s courteous to move your bottle so others can use the bench.
Refrain from chatting with people while they’re lifting weights.
Communication is important, but it should happen either before or after someone’s set, not in the middle of it. For example, if you want to grab a 2.5-pound plate from the squat rack but the person using it is about to start, wait until they’ve finished. When they re-rack the bar, that’s the perfect time to ask for the plate.
If you need to get close to someone to take a plate, remember to ask for permission and respect their personal space.
Opt for equipment that is less frequently used by others, ensuring you don’t monopolize the more popular machines or gear.
You have an equal right to use the gym equipment as anyone else. Don’t let the fact that certain groups, like the teenage crowd at the bench press or the fast-paced runners on the treadmills, typically occupy certain machines discourage you from using them.
However, when the gym is crowded, it’s important to be mindful of others when selecting equipment. For example, if you need a bench for hip thrusts, consider using a freestanding bench rather than occupying the bench press station. If the squat rack is convenient for curls but others are waiting to squat, take your curls (or any other exercise that doesn’t require a rack) elsewhere.
Be strategic when planning your circuits.
Circuit training is an efficient way to work out: You complete one set of each exercise in a series, with minimal rest in between, before cycling back to the first exercise and repeating the sequence.
In an empty gym, your circuit could include anything—a squat in the rack, curls by the mirror, a sprint on the treadmill, a set on the cable machine, then back to squats. But in a busy gym, it’s best to avoid occupying multiple pieces of equipment simultaneously and leaving others waiting while you finish your entire circuit.
If you choose to stick with your circuit, remain adaptable: If you return to the cable machine and someone has switched the attachment to perform a different exercise, don’t get upset. Either skip that station or take the extra 30 seconds of rest while they finish their set, then jump in quickly when you can.
Even better, rethink how you set up your circuits. Bring a pair of dumbbells to the squat rack so you can easily alternate between squats and curls. Instead of running to the treadmill between cable rows, do some jumping jacks nearby. Or, if the gym is too crowded, consider focusing on one exercise at a time instead of doing circuits.
Work in.
Inevitably, there will be times when you and someone else both want the same piece of equipment. The solution is to work in, or take turns.
Here’s the rule: Whoever is using the equipment first has the right to decide if they’ll allow others to work in. If you want to use equipment someone else is already on, it’s your responsibility to ask them if you can work in; it’s not their job to read your mind and offer.
Here’s how a typical conversation might unfold:
Lifter A: "Hey, how many sets do you have left?"
Lifter B, counting on their fingers: "Uh...six."
Lifter A: "Oh. Um. Do you think I could work in?"
At this point, Lifter B will either respond with, "Sure," and you both get started, or they'll say, "Nah, I’d like to finish my sets, but you can have it next."
It’s polite, though not mandatory, for Lifter A to remain nearby or check back after a while; Lifter B should also inform anyone else waiting that Lifter A is next in line for the equipment. If they’re particularly considerate, Lifter B might even come over to notify Lifter A when the equipment is free.
Speak up.
I get it, it can be annoying to have to actually talk to people. But in my opinion, 90% of the issues people face with others at the gym could be avoided if everyone communicated politely.
For example: You’re preparing to do deadlifts, and someone drops their bag on the corner of your platform and starts doing pushups right in front of you. This is distracting, rude, and potentially dangerous. But maybe the pushup guy is just unsure about where else to do his pushups. He could have said:
"Mind if I do some pushups here? Oh, my bad, I’ll keep my bag out of your way."
Even if he didn’t, you can still say something like:
"Hey, I need a little more space. Would you mind moving your bag while I finish my next set?"
In this situation, the person doing pushups is in the wrong, but both sides still have the chance to communicate. Usually, it’s not too difficult to reach a mutual understanding once you do.
And if someone brings up something you’re doing that might be considered rude, don’t take offense. We’re all just trying to make space for everyone here.
