Gym Etiquitte

Ok, so we're all there at the gym, with similar purposes, so let's go ahead and make it nicer, easier and cleaner for everyone. Just apply the rules of common courtesy, and you should be fine. But, if you don't know what those rules are, here's a reminder:

• Don't randomly start using the floor mat that someone else is using. I know, people leave their mats on the ground with out putting them away sometimes, but when you see someone's gym towel, weights and water bottle right next to it odds are that they are running a lap or using the restroom. Get your own. It's gross to come back to the mat you've been using for 30 minutes and have someone leave you their fresh layer of sweat. Or, it's super annoying to have to go get another mat, gather your stuff from what has now become their area.
• When you are using the stationary weight machines, be polite. If you want to use the pull-down machine, and someone is using it already, when they are done with their set, ask if you can share the machine between sets. Don't just take over and assume they aren't coming back if they walk over to the leg curl machine. If it's obvious that they're finished, great. But common courtesy would be nice.
• If you are a person that sweats a lot when you work out, grab a towel, and use it! Not just on your sweaty face, but wipe off the sweat you left on the seat, the handles and the back rest of the machine. And while you're at it, grab a sanitary wipe from one of the many convenient holders and wipe your germs off. This is the time of the year when people are sick, not to mention that gyms can be a mass breeding ground for staph infections and other gross stuff.
• If you see people that are doing any sort of floor exercises, go around them, don't step on their fingers. This may sound funny to you, but it happens. It can get crowded at the gym, so look out for where you are stepping.
• When you use the 5, 8 or 10 pound weights, go ahead and put them back in the 5, 8 or 10 pound holders. The right ones. The 5's don't go in the 10 holder. When you are the one looking madly for a set of 8's you'll understand why this is important, especially when you see all the 8's buried under a stack of 10's, in the holder for the 5's. Someone's got to dig them out, and it's annoying to break up your work out to clean up everyone else's lazy mess.
• If you are going to be late for your workout more than 10 minutes, give your fitness trainer the heads up…he deserves the respect that you'd give your boss or your mom. It's a career, not a hobby, and you have an obligation to be there, or let them know if you can't. Of course, if you can't make it at all, you should give as much notice as you can. Common Courtesy.

So, be nice to people, clean up after yourself, wipe up your germs, make a phone call. So easy. Hope that everyone starts doing these things!

Be eXcellent!

Ms. X - a www.socalworkout.com contributing writer.