Are you one of those people that would just love to go to the gym, yet have that one specific reason for not going? Maybe you’re just starting out and are worried about making a bad impression on your fellow gym-goers. Perhaps you’re an experienced gym-goer and want to know how to better accommodate newcomers. Well in that case, good for you.
Regardless of your story, whether you're brand new or have been coming to the gym every day for the past several years, there’s always one thing to remember. Everyone shares the same gym, the same floor space, the same gym equipment, the same instructors, same everything! And sharing, whether we like it or not, is caring.
With people the world over lining up to go to their local gyms after months of sitting at home working, sitting at home watching TV, sitting at home eating and during practically everything else, it’s more crucial than ever to have the perfect gym environment to get your sweat on. With thousands of gyms and fitness centres across Canada, people are eager to get out of their pandemic lapses and get back to old habits.
If you’re looking to go to the gym, here are some tips to help you better blend in :
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Put Away Your Gym Equipment When You’re Done, please
Having someone come in only to exercise and leave all their gym equipment on the floor is equivalent to a rude house guest. The gym equipment is there for everyone to use. And trust me, it can get quite frustrating to not find the kettlebells you were looking for only to notice them at the opposite end of the gym after an overly long scavenger hunt. Bring your dumbbells, kettlebells, weight plates and more back to where they belong, please.
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Take Your Time, But Not TOO Much
Sometimes you’re looking to come into the gym and focus on a specific muscle group. If that’s the case, you’ll go over to do bench presses or squats and lift weights until you drop, right? Although I may be inclined to give you a shout out for good effort, most people won’t be so forgiving.
How long would you be willing to wait for gym equipment before getting tired? Probably not very long. Don’t be a hogger, if you see people waiting, let them have it, your machine isn’t going anywhere. It’s for everyone to share.
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Find a Good Place to Work Out
There’s plenty of things we do when we’re lazy such as not doing the dishes, putting on that shirt you wore yesterday, or working out right in front of the gym equipment. Now, fellow gym-goer, I know you don’t mean any harm. It’s just convenient because you like to use the bar as support or to pick out a new pair of dumbbells, kettlebells, or anything else.
The problem is that others also want to grab those dumbbells but they’re just too shy to approach you in the middle of you “working those gains”. Don’t stand too close to the gym equipment, let others use it too.
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Wipe Up After Yourself
To all you sweaty gym-goers out there, we know it’s tough. Whether it’s having hands that are too slippery to lift anything or a drop of sweat that gets into your eye when you’re deadlifting or just the smell, it’s not pleasant.
Make sure to bring a towel to wipe up not only yourself but the gym equipment after yourself. I don’t know about others, but they’d probably prefer a clean, spotless bench to a soaking wet one. Or maybe not, you can be the judge of that.
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Your Taste In Music Is Great, But Not For Everyone
Imagine going into the gym with heavy metal to get the adrenaline flowing or smooth jazz to relax and loosen your muscles. Bet you’re feeling more pumped already, there’s only one problem: it’s not just you.
Headphones are a self-explanatory step to take but another thing to keep in mind is singing. You may not even notice your breaking out into song mid-bench press but trust me, others around you will. Even though I trust your music taste is amazing, you rockstar, that doesn’t mean that everyone is as ahemm, “cultured” as you.
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DON’T Drop Your Weights
You’ve worked years for this, you're just about to do your final rep for your 350lb deadlift. As you finally lift the bar, your muscles give out and there’s a loud bang as your bar drops to the floor. If you’re at home, you can get away with it by ignoring ther cracks in your floor.
At the gym however, all the equipment is shared and dropping it damages it bit by bit. The sound of the bar dropping, or a stray toe being caught also isn’t very pleasant to say the least. Treat your gym equipment with care, and you’ll be just fine.
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You Came Here to Work, Not To Chill
According to Harper's Fitness, a fitness centre chain based in the U.K, typical gym-goers waste as much as 35% of their time on picking out music, fumbling around with their headphones and chatting with friends. If you’ve already made the commitment by taking the time out of your schedule and paying the membership fee, then make the most of it.
Talking with other members may be fun, but that’s what your local Starbucks is for. Stay focused and stay strong, fellow gym-goer. We’re all lazy but that creamy latte and Netflix TV show will have to wait.
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Don’t Be Embarrassed
As a beginner, you might instantly feel your self-esteem drop to the ground when you’re surrounded by muscle-defined, beefy gym rats that instantly make you feel like a shrimp in comparison. If you’re thinking that, then stop. Please stop. You’re only doing yourself more harm than good.
The truth is, people at the gym are more focused on themselves than on you and ultimately, people in the gym are rooting for you. Do you know why? Because all of them started out where you are now and only did one thing, they didn’t give up. Keep fighting hard and eventually, you’ll get to where you want to go. The sky’s the limit for you.
What Next?
For high quality, affordable fitness equipment delivered directly to your door, be sure to visit us at www.fitnessavenue.ca to start your fitness journey today!
