What To Do At The Gym: Your Fitness Etiquette Questions Answered

By Miss Fit for Blisstree.com

Hello again from Miss Fit, a weekly advice column from someone who is a bit of a non-conformist when it comes to health and exercise. Today, she responds to questions about annoying gym behaviors. From guys who take their shirts off in yoga class to those who bring their cell phones into spin class, find out what Miss Fit thinks and how to handle them.

Dear Miss Fit,
My boyfriend thinks it's okay to take his shirt off in yoga class. A lot of other guys do this too. I think it's disrespectful and distracting because I feel like they are trying to show off their bodies (which some of them shouldn't) and that's not the point of yoga. Am I wrong?

More from Blisstree.com:
Who Cares What You Wear To Yoga?
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Just Because You're Flexible Doesn't Mean You'll Be A Good Yoga Teacher

This is a question or concern that comes up a lot in the fitness world. You see guys running without a shirt all the time on the road, but in a yoga class -- or any other gym class -- it's not really cool. Some people prefer that bellies and backs stay covered up in a class. It comes down to a matter of respect for those around you, so when in doubt, it's usually better to err on the conservative side at the gym.

Dear Miss Fit,
Is it okay to bring cell phones to spin class? I see people do this all the time. Phones ring often and some even text mid-class while on their bikes.

It's okay to bring a cell phone to class -- as long as you don't use it. Or let it ring. Or vibrate. Some people just feel more secure with their lifeline with them at all times. But answering questions about work or catching up with your college roommate will have to wait until after class. And by that I mean, in the parking lot, not in the doorway to spin class or the hallways where crowds are trying to get around you.

Dear Miss Fit,
It's flu season and I'm paranoid about getting sick. Is it rude of me to refuse to shake hands with others at the gym? My aerobics instructor always wants us to introduce ourselves to others in the class before we begin, but I'd rather not because then I have to shake their hand.

That's a totally valid concern. Here's what you do: When asked to introduce yourself to others, you can still go up to them. Just keep your hands behind your back. If they try to shake your hand, just let them know you're fighting a cold and don't want to pass it on. They will surely back off. And if they don't, be sure to wash your hands immediately after class.

Have a question? Send your dilemmas about feeling like a misfit when it comes to eating, fitness and going to the gym to [e-mail] with "Miss Fit" in the subject line.

Comments

[Pazzuzu]

11:38 AM on 02/15/2012

I don't think this has been covered but once a lady was next to me on the incline situp and she started farting. Every time she did a rep she farted (i know, I didn't think women did that,lol) but I just had to leave in a hurry.

[Bringbackmanufacturing]

08:19 PM on 02/08/2012

Just because you like your sent, does not mean other people do. Please don't over spray your perfume, some people have asthma.

[laurenproof12]

12:27 PM on 02/09/2012

Ugh this is a problem everywhere. I can't stand it, not just ladies but men as well. I often try to figure out what stench they are trying to cover up?!?!

[Karl Wilder]

03:08 PM on 02/08/2012

While all this is interesting you realize that this is being written to the complainers justifying their complaints and will do nothing to change the behavior of those being complained about.

[noahmarder]

01:12 AM on 02/08/2012

1. If you're not using machine/bench/rack, don't sit/stand there and block someone else.
2. Re-rack weights when you are done.
3. Don't drop weights just to get attention and/or on floors not designed for the impact.
4. Don't do biceps curls in a squat rack.
5. Don't stand in front of dumbbell racks unless you are picking up/returning weights.
6. Don't talk to someone in the middle of a set unless he talks first.

[Jennifer Kley]

04:18 PM on 02/07/2012

For me personally, sweat stains and deodorant smears are the worst. I get icked out. Completely. Icked. Out. Sweat is awful. Especially other people's.

http://thecubiclerebel.wordpress.com/

[laurenproof12]

12:28 PM on 02/09/2012

You're complaining about sweat in a gym? You're completely out of touch with reality. If you aren't sweating in the gym, and don't have a medical condition, you aren't working hard enough. Come on...sweat...really?!?!?!

[hhf34]

02:16 AM on 02/13/2012

They aren't complaining about the sweat, but the lack of cleaning the sweat off of surfaces that others need to use that gives any person out there the heeves...

[kahunacook]

12:09 PM on 02/12/2012

If you're complaining about sweat in a gym than you'd be better off staying at home and working out. (And I'm not saying people shouldn't wipe down a machine after their use.) Sweat in a gym, it's gonna happen, just like dirt in a garden.

[catmagnet]

01:00 PM on 02/12/2012

Exactly. Though there are things that you can do at home for working out. I don't have much equipment, just a set of 5lb dumbells, a Swiss Ball and a computer. I do my cardio listening to Spotify or one of the radio stations that iTunes has, then I do weight training with my dumbbells and my Swiss ball. 10 pounds gone in 6 weeks, so I'm happy.

[daphneford]

10:05 AM on 02/07/2012

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[Angelmagik2]

06:18 PM on 02/06/2012

Keep your clothes on in yoga, no matter how hot you are. No-one wants a sweaty bare chested man doing a sun warrior or an up or down dog next to them.
Make your texts and calls whilst relaxing with a drink after your work out. These are deliberate distractions to pass the time quickly and an excuse to not work your hardest. Just because you don't take a work out seriously others do. Why not half your gym time but work doubly hard then make calls after in the bar of on your hands free blue tooth in the car. Take an iPod or headphones to listen to the TV's if you need a distraction. Do adults really need lessons in etiquette or is this really a case of giving consideration to others and using common sense?

[JSDKoeln]

08:18 AM on 02/07/2012

"Keep your clothes on in yoga, no matter how hot you are. No-one wants a sweaty bare chested man doing a sun warrior or an up or down dog next to them"

Speak for yourself! ;-)

[Angelmagik2]

08:49 AM on 02/07/2012

Obviously I am speaking for myself but thankfully others share my view or we would clearly be subjected to some horrific experiences by those who are inconsiderate. Why stop at the shirt?

[Niasia]

01:55 PM on 02/06/2012

I wish someone had asked about cleaning the equipment once you get off. The gym is a great place for germs and I wish everyone would do their part in keeping them to a minimum. It is so gross to see people sweat all over the machine and just hop off. I tend to clean before and after I get off because I know people do not wipe down. They should put a sign on each machine that says "Please remember to clean me when you're done"!

[laurenproof12]

12:31 PM on 02/09/2012

I do wipe off my machine when I get off, but I ALWAYS clean it before I get on. I don't have faith in others, at all!!!

[Dawn Fritsch]

06:05 AM on 02/06/2012

for me as an instructor of spin classes it's definitely the phone! I figure if you can talk in one of my classes you're not working hard enough. I've always been tempted to stop the class and ask if they need a moment to finish up, maybe one day I just might :) That would get the message across that it's not acceptable

[Angelmagik2]

05:54 PM on 02/06/2012

No-one ever takes calls in any class I go to. Phones go off and the owners including myself apologise and mute the phone. Our trainers just ask us to mute our phones if it gets a habit.

[JSDKoeln]

08:20 AM on 02/07/2012

My partner teaches modern dance. He had a student, last week, opt out of a floor exercise and started texting. My partner kicked him out of the class... won't let him return. Just take a hard line. Set the precedent once, and it will be respected.

[Exercisegirl18]

12:35 AM on 02/06/2012

If you can talk on the phone while you are on a cardio machine you are not maximizing your workout. You could avoid annoying the people around you AND cut your workout in half. Any cardio that effectively burns fat should be done at a rate where you can barely carry a conversation.

[laurenproof12]

12:33 PM on 02/09/2012

That's not true. I begin and end my workouts with a 10 minute walk. I'm hardly out of breath for that. Not that I use my phone at the gym...just proving an oputside point:)

[Diana Bitritto]

10:22 PM on 02/05/2012

I used to take spin classes and I have one comment: Please don't make the adjusting knobs on the spin bikes so tight that the next person who uses the bike can't open them unless they're Superman!

[mallenrohslvr]

10:06 PM on 02/05/2012

There's a guy that works out in my gym who sings along to his music at the top of his lungs and he's wearing headphones!!! He's so loud I can hear him thru my headphones w/my music turned all the way up!!! Another guy makes the most annoying grunting noises when he's working out if he's walking on the treadmill, you'd think he was pulling a 50 lbs boulder up a steep hill and every move he makes is way more exaggerated than it needs to be. . . The staff call him ''the bulldog''

[Angelmagik2]

05:56 PM on 02/06/2012

That's so funny but annoying. I hate it when people pin their locker to their top and then it jingles really loudly.

[laurenproof12]

12:35 PM on 02/09/2012

Why doesn't the staff of your gym tell him he needs to stop? My gym wouldn't put up with someone yelling or singing constantly. I only go to a Gold's Gym, nothing fancy.

[rockgirlkeh]

09:33 PM on 02/05/2012

I don't know about the habits listed in the article, but one of my biggest pet peeves is music. I go to a tiny fitness room in my college dorm, and almost always there is some buff guy blasting hardcore metal while working out. Even with my mp3 player on, the music is so loud I have to turn my device up to full volume. The result is by the end of my workout my head is killing me and I'm really pissed off. Please, please, please be considerate when it comes to volume!

[Jo intheATL]

09:02 PM on 02/05/2012

If you don't like seeing a guy taking his shirt off in yoga, you're welcome to join Curves

[catmagnet]

07:30 AM on 02/06/2012

Yeah, if you want to leave your conscience at the door. The founder of Curves is anti-choice.

[laurenproof12]

12:36 PM on 02/09/2012

Never knew that, Thanks for the info, I'm going to research this and spread the work, yuck!

[hhf34]

07:38 PM on 02/05/2012

There are FAR bigger etiquette faux paus at the gym than the above listed... How about the sweaty (beep) guy who lays down on the bench and leaves sweat all over it without wiping it down... Or the person who takes over the power racks when the person it's set up for goes to get a drink of water.. Or the person who absolutely every single day they show up forgets to put on some extra strength deoderant and stinks up a 12' radius of wherever they're at... Or the person who walks in from the winter snowy/wet parking lot/walks into the weight room getting wet all over the floor for people to slip on... Or the person doing curls in the squat rack... Or the person who goes au natural in the locker room without so much as putting a towel down before sitting on the benches.. Peeing in the locker room showers... And last, but most importantly, those who don't put weights/mats/dumbbells/etc. away when they're done using them!!!

[Ed whowannaknow]

03:25 AM on 02/06/2012

all valid...add to that, people who pee in urinal and dont flush, after peeing and touching their junk dont wash hands then go out and touch everything, people going over limit on time limited machines, people who try to use 2 machines at same time/use a pile of different weights instead of just a pair, people who fart, people who DONT shower or so much as change underwear but then are clearly dressing to go back out amoung the rest of us, people who dry their junk under hand dryer, guys who drop weights.....

But have to say on the "person who takes over the power racks when the person it's set up for goes to get a drink of water", if someone leaves a machine and does not leave behind some marker (towel, water bottle/ect ect) that clearly says "ill be right back" or wanders off more then a few minutes...too bad! Im not a mind reader and dont know someone is using a machine when they wander off and leave nothing behind, or I stand by the machine 2 minutes and no one appears.

[laurenproof12]

12:37 PM on 02/09/2012

You need a better gym with more decent people:) Hahaha!