-Clean off weight benches and exercise equipment when you’re done with them – even if you don’t think you got them dirty. Consider it a contribution toward the next user’s peace of mind.
-Save the grunting, groaning and shouting for home workouts where no one can hear you. We all know you’re at the gym and working hard; you don’t need to hammer the point home like you’re Jimmy Connors.
-On a related note, no one wants to hear your cell phone conversations, so don’t have them when you’re working out. And while you’re at it, don’t stop your workout every 10 seconds to check your phone or send a text message.
-Deodorant is your friend; apply liberally. Go easy on the perfume and cologne, though. You’re not trying to impress anyone; all you need to do is avoid offending everyone’s senses.
-Dress appropriately. Shirts are good. Jeans are bad. And wearing spandex is a dangerous game.
-Keep the music down. No matter how much you like the Insane Clown Posse, no one else wants to hear it blaring out of your earbuds. And don’t be the knucklehead who just blasts his or her music without even bothering with earbuds or headphones.
-Return weights to their proper place when you’re done with them, and try not to rattle the walls of the gym by dropping them on the floor.
-Keep your mind on your workout and don’t ogle the other patrons. And see if you can keep the ogling of yourself in the mirror to a minimum while you’re at it. “Hey everyone! Come see how good I look!”
-If there’s a robust crowd waiting to use a piece of equipment you’re using, keep your time on it reasonable – 30 minutes is OK, an hour is too much. And if you have to wait, be gracious about it; lose the hovering, the eye-rolling and the attention-seeking sighs.
-If you need to bring the kids with you, that’s fine, but have a plan for them. If the gym has child care, great. Just don’t leave them to their own devices, letting them bug other patrons and screw around on equipment they don’t know how to use.
