Don’t let the gym intimidate you

September 20, 2006 – 3:11 pm

by Rigel

It’s hard enough to make that decision to get in shape- to finally walk into the gym, talk to the guy in the too-tight shorty-shorts, and sign your life away to a fitness membership. But then you’re there- standing uncomfortably in the middle of a cold room surrounded by scary machines and sweaty gym-going “regulars” wearing iPods and serious faces.

It’s no wonder people hate the gym. The good news is that much of that intimidation factor can be overcome by knowing what those “sweaty regulars” know- the rules of gym etiquette:

1) Don’t be rude- don’t play your music too loud or laugh obnoxiously at the TV. We all know how distracting (and just plain annoying) those people can be.
2) Maintain good hygiene- wipe off the equipment after you’ve used it.
3) Restack your weights- you don’t want to search all over the gym for an 8 lb dumbbell and neither does anyone else.
4) Stay back when starting a group exercise class- let the experienced participants hang near the front. And make sure you give those close to you enough elbow room.
5) Hire a personal trainer- they’ll show you around and give you a plan specifically tailored to your goals.

Some of these seem pretty obvious- like “don’t be rude.” That’s a basic everywhere! But others, like “hire a personal trainer,” are also very important. Now I didn’t originally come up with this list, but I can say from personal experience that having a trainer made a huge difference- when I first joined the gym my membership came with 3 free sessions. Not that I made any noticeable physical progress in 3 days, or even stuck to the exercise plan he gave me, but he did teach me my way around the gym and every piece of equipment I’d ever use. It helped me feel more comfortable, less like a fish out of water, and more confident when standing there waiting for “Arnold” to get off the bench-press.