How to Deal With Bad Gym Etiquette

Whether your workout buddy is hogging the only free elliptical or reeks of body odor due to poor hygiene, bad gym etiquette is a problem that truly stinks. If you want to enjoy your work out, you need to help put an end to bad gym etiquette. Like any etiquette issue, this simply involves asserting yourself--in a polite but very insistent manner.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Talk to gym employees if the gym etiquette violator is breaking a clearly posted rule, like not signing in for cardio equipment or staying on it longer than allowed during peak workout hours. You can also tell gym employees about free weights left where people can trip over them--they deal with these problems all the time and should be comfortable enforcing the fitness center's rules.
2. Let your group fitness instructor know if another classmate is encroaching on your workout space or standing in front of you in the mirror. She can make an announcement that everyone needs to have a clear view of the mirror--rather than singling the person out or forcing you to deal with the etiquette faux pas.
3. Tell yoga and pilates instructors if cell phone chatter or late arrivals are disturbing your experience. They are supposed to enforce no lateness and no chatter rules--you should not have to deal with these problems yourself.
4. Speak politely but forcefully to etiquette violators about loud cellphones and iPods. "Hey, buddy, would you mind turning that down?" is a good way to make this request.
5. Expect some level of body odor at a facility where people are working up a sweat, but if a person truly stinks, you're probably better off bringing up the problem with the gym employees. They may have dealt with this variety of bad gym etiquette before, and you don't want to potentially start a fight with a sweating hulk who could bench press you for breakfast.
6. Look the other way when you see people wearing tight and unflattering workout clothes. It might not be a pretty sight, but unless the person with the spandex camel toe is your best friend or sister, you probably should keep your complaints to yourself. If nudity is involved, you can let a gym employee know, of course.