So, you have finally invested in yourself and your health by getting a Paseo Club membership and want to check out the gym. You are aiming to get stronger. Maybe get a little definition in the abs and biceps.
You walk in. Everyone seems friendly enough. But you are secretly wondering to yourself, am I doing this right?
Some questions you might have are:
- Is it ok to keep working out on the same machine for more than 30 minutes?
- Was I supposed to bring a towel to wipe down the machine?
- What if I want to wear my new sandals to the gym on 90-degree days?
The Paseo Club has been helping people train and feel their best for almost 20 years. Our staff know all there is to know about our gym and the rules for working out.
In this article we will give you all the insider tips you need so that the next time you lift weights at the gym, you will know what proper etiquette is.
The 10 most important rules for etiquette at the Paseo Club gym
1. Only certified personal trainers employed by the Paseo Club can train members. Outside trainers are forbidden.
2. Wear closed-toed shoes at all times. Closed-toed shoes help protect your feet when using equipment, especially lifting weights. Being barefoot is not hygienic in a shared gym.
3. Bacteria thrive in damp, warm, and spongy places. Since gym equipment is often warm from body heat and wet with sweat, it is a perfect environment for microbes to thrive. Wipe down all the equipment you have used to keep surfaces clean.
4. Put back all equipment you use, including unracking your weights. This step is imperative to keep members safe from germs and to maintain order in the gym. Leaving free weights and other equipment spread around the gym is one of the most common faux pas new people do. It is also one of the most annoying.
5. Take all phone calls outside. Taking your call outside the gym is respectful and courteous. Plus, no one wants to hear other people's personal calls.
6. Let people “work in” if the gym is busy. Working in means when you are doing sets on a machine or with free weights, and other people want to use the same equipment, alternate your sets. That way, other members can get a turn.
7. Limit the use of cardio machines to 30 minutes during busy hours. That ensures that more people get a turn and there is no monopolizing of equipment.
8. Follow the dress code. Men must wear shirts or tank tops and women in sports bras should use a towel when sitting on equipment.
9. No one under the age of 14 is allowed in the gym without a personal trainer. Kids 13 and younger are too young and inexperienced to use the machines and weights safely. Teens 14 and older can use the gym, but it is still best if they have some experience using the equipment or have participated in one of our youth fitness programs.
10. We want the gym to be a safe place. Therefore, photographing and videotaping other people without permission is not allowed. Please be conscientious of this if you are taking selfies or are recording yourself, especially if it will be shared on social media.
Final thoughts on what the etiquette is at the Paseo Club
Walking into a gym the first few times can be a little scary. You may not know how to use all of the machines or what the unspoken rules of conduct are.
Having guidelines in place gives everyone the same understanding and expectation of how to share the gym equipment. They can help people get along and use their voice when otherwise they may feel too intimidated to speak up.
Paseo Club not only has a state-of-the-art gym, but there are cycle, Pilates, yoga, and interval training studios too. We also have an outdoor junior-Olympic pool that is open all year long.
If you would like to learn more about our instructor-led classes, you can see our calendar and sign up for classes online.
If you haven’t yet made it to the Paseo Club, sign up for a tour today.
To learn more about some of our most popular programs, you can check these articles out:
- What are the benefits of Liquid Cardio?
- Paseo Tribe Extreme HIIT vs CrossFit (What's the difference?)
- Top 12 reasons to cycle for fitness
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