This article was done in association with Celebrity Fitness.
We called our friends at Celebrity Fitness to teach us proper gym etiquette
1. The Equipment Hoarder
The hoarders are those who go around the gym copping machines, equipment and weights they want with their towel, water bottle, locker keys and anything else they can. When they find a spot they’re happy with, they build a nice little nest out of all the stuff they’ve picked out from around the gym, leaving everyone else to wait until they’re done with their circuit.
2. The Hyper Competitive Gym-er
You’re running at your own pace on a treadmill when you notice the person next to you constantly glancing at your machine. It hits you then that they’re adding speed and picking up pace whenever you do because they have to be one step ahead of you. These highly competitive gym bunnies don’t like losing, even though you were never in a competition with them in the first place.
3. The PDA Couple
Some people go to the gym to have some alone time and some use them to spend more time with their other half. The latter would be great, but if only they keep the PDA on the down low. The overtly encouraging words to each other, constant body contact and not-so-subtle sexual tension can be uncomfortable to watch; as an involuntary spectator, you’ll probably end up being the one feeling ‘dirty’ instead.
4. The Instagrammer
Most people go to the gym for one purpose: to sweat it out, and the last thing on your mind would be how you look doing it. But then there are those who go to the gym for #fitspo #selfies. They are in the gym for a total of ten minutes – half of which was spent in front of the mirror taking pictures and adjusting their hair, and the rest to splash water all over their bodies to look extra sweaty.
Celebrity Fitness: It’s all right to document your progress with snapshots, but be careful where you point your camera. Other patrons might not necessarily be comfortable with the idea of them being captured while they’re off-guard like that. It’s especially a no-no to take pictures or selfies in the changing room, so make sure you’re being mindful of others while taking pictures, and never upload them on social media if there are potentially embarrassing shots of other people in there.
5. The Workaholic
The very definition of a Workaholic is a person who works constantly, and when they’re at the gym it’s no exception. They’ll be the ones mindlessly working out while having an intense phone conversation or furiously jotting down ideas and plans in their notebook. Who would bring their planner or laptop to the gym anyway, you ask? That would be the same people who are so busy that they barely have time to change out of their corporate wear before jumping on the treadmill.
6. The Creative
It’s another normal day at the gym until you spot someone using the leg press machine differently. At first you’ll wonder if this person is trying out a new method on that particular piece of equipment (something they probably found on YouTube), but then you’ll slowly realise they’re more clueless than creative when it becomes apparent their form isn’t the most accurate. Creatives are often seen swinging from the TRX like Tarzan, sitting on the wrong round on the leg press, and kicking the medicine ball around.
CF: We’ve all been that person who walks into the gym unsure what to do, so we stick to the least complicated machine to operate. While it’s all right to be a beginner (we all had to start from somewhere right?), it’s necessary to know how to use the heavy-duty equipment properly to avoid injuries. Plus, if you really want to utilise your gym membership, get a personal trainer so you can make full use of the services offered. And once you’re confident enough, you can do them on your own.
7. The Copycat
You’ve taken the initiative to hire a personal trainer to help with your training. During the lessons, you notice from the corner of your eye someone listening in; as you start, the same person starts mimicking everything you’ve been told to do. That’s essentially what a Copycat is – it basically rides on your private training with a PT that you’ve hired and paid for, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
CF: If you’re new to working out in a gym, it’s better to get someone who is trained to show you the ropes, otherwise you might hurt yourself. If you’re the one whose private classes are being watched, speak to your trainer and if it’s distracting you, he might be able to help you find ways where you can concentrate on your form instead.
8. The Noisemaker
Here’s the scenario: you wake up early in the morning to hit the gym while there’s no one around – which is all great until someone else walks in. There’s plenty of equipment for all; so it’s still all right. Then the noises start – it begins with low whimpering as if an injured animal was hiding under the bench press, which soon escalates into loud grunts as their workout intensifies. Unfortunately, there’s no way around it but to put on a pair of headphones and crank up the music to drown out the distraction.