Health club and gym etiquette

For some of us a health club or gym is a daunting place to visit. Full of superfit bodies with unusual habits, smells and behaviour. This guide to health club etiquette is aimed to be fun - but some lessons may be learnt.

The do's and don'ts of health club etiquette

Try to follow these tips for your own gym safety and comfort.

Do

• Replace weights back after use.
• Wipe off your sweat from a machine after use.
• When in doubt ask for assistance from a fitness instructor.
• Wear training shoes.
• Wear appropriate kit.
• Always wear a clean fresh kit!
• Take a shower after training.
• Talk to other members. They won't bite.

Don't

• Use some else's weights / machine etc without asking first.
• Wear smelly trainers!
• Wear lycra if your male.
• Ignore signs displayed in health clubs.
• Use your mobile phone in the gym.
• Hog a particular machine for too long (over 20 minutes).

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