Gym etiquette: How to avoid annoying everyone in the gym

If you are someone who spends some time in the gym, odds are there'd be a few guys and girls who have pushed you one too many times and now everything they do just annoys you.

You don’t want to be that guy, so here are the main rules to follow when you are in the gym to keep everyone happy.

Related: Five ways to burn fat while you sleep

Share the squat rack

The squat rack is often the main feature of legs day, and believe it or not, you are probably not the only guy with your legs scheduled in for a session that day.

Sadly, not every gym has multiple squat racks, so if you see another guy or girl awkwardly hovering around waiting for you, let them swap in with you if they can squat a similar amount.

If the person waiting can’t squat anywhere near your weight and it will just become a hassle to let them jump in with you, at least try to work at a good pace for them. Sure you got there first, but wouldn’t you want them to do the same for you if the tables were turned?

Get off your phone

Similarly to the squat rack, if you see that there are several people in the gym and you know that there are minimal squat racks, smith machines or chest presses, then now would not be the time to get your phone out between sets and text/ Instagram/ take a selfie. That is just annoying for everyone and you will quickly become one of the most disliked people in the gym.

Get in, work hard and give the bench or machine to someone else. It also wouldn’t hurt to take yourself away from technology for a minute. Listen to your music and focus on what you are doing.

Put your weights away

If you are strong enough to lift the weight, then you are strong enough to put it back where it belongs.

Sure you may be thinking that there is gym floor staff to do that for you, but consider that, like you, the other people training in the gym may also want to use the same weight. If it’s not returned to where it belongs, yet it is not being used by anyone else because you annoyingly decided to leave it in the middle of the floor, then you are affecting another persons workout by being lazy. Once again, how would you feel if that happened to you?

Furthermore, if you know that you are the strongest bloke in the gym, please consider others and take at least some of the weight off the chest press and leg press when you finish. You don’t want the gorgeous girl who you have been eyeing off to have to spend 10 minutes trying to remove the heavy weights after you.

Related: The ten best knee-friendly exercises

You don't need to slam the bar on the floor

Yes I know it’s part of gym culture to throw the bar down after a heavy lift while screaming loudly, but remember that the downward phase of the exercise is also beneficial to your gains, and frankly:

• The rest of the people in the gym have their headphones on so it is unlikely that they will join you in your celebration

• The neighbours downstairs don’t love feeling as if the roof may cave in above them

• You are disrespecting the weight that is helping you with your gains

• You may be causing damage to the gym floor

If you wouldn’t throw a heavy weight down on the floor in your home, then it’s probably also unnecessary to do it at the gym

Don't forget about personal hygiene

Wear deodorant and bring a towel. No one wants to lie on a sweaty, BO smelling bench after you so do your bit to help the gym keep their hygiene up to scratch, particularly at peak times when the staff probably won’t have time to wipe the benches down for you.

'''Ben Lucas is the owner of Sydney’s premier luxe fitness and yoga studio Flow Athletic. He's been in the industry for 12 years and was formerly an NRL player for the Sharks.

Ben is also an ultra-endurance runner, completing 35 ultra endurance events in just 5 years.'''