Etiquette for the Gym at Work

Yes, There Is Such a Thing as Visual TMI

Back in the day (OK, waay back), I worked out at a real gym - one where you would often see professional bodybuilders. We were serious about our lifting, those big boys, ripped girls and I. So when a woman came in one day in full make up, wearing matching workout togs, we all just stared. She was an anachronism. I bet she didn’t even own a ripped, sweat-stained Rolling Rock T-shirt. Obviously, she didn’t know our culture.

I’ve never had the privilege of working for a company that provided an on-site workout facility. Personally, I admire those folks who take the time during the work day to squeeze in a session on the treadmill. But do corporate gyms have their own etiquette? To find out, I asked my friend and former colleague, Rhonda Burnaugh, RN, a wellness director who ran the gym program at her last job. Here are some tips from Burnaugh:

Things NOT to do at the Company Gym
 
   1. “Dress like a sumo wrestler or Dog, the Bounty Hunter’s wife and wonder why people are staring at you. This includes Speedos and Daisy Duke pants.”
   2. “In the sauna or steam room, use a towel to sit on. Ever heard of ‘hot cross buns’?”
   3. “Sing out loud with your iPod. Nothing better than an off-key Michael Jackson rewind…”
   4. “So you think you can dance? Practice at home, first, OK? Not on my feet in Zumba class…”
   5. “Use the free weights, bands, etc. and not put them back. That way other people get a little extra workout picking up after you!”
   6. “Got gas?” ‘Nuf sed. (Burnaugh recalls a guy who received threat of banishment from the elliptical machine for his “expressive” nature.)
 
“Other than that, have a great workout!”

So, keep the above in mind as you admire your buffed magnificence in those full-length mirrors.

This is a guest post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.

Comments

[Luann Udell]

My personal favorite: If/when you sweat on a machine, WIPE IT OFF!! Dudes, it's a BODY FLUID!!!

[Amy]

Informative and entertaining as always. And you with the Speedos on the treadmill. If you see me waiting and you still while away my lunch hour chatting with Xena Warrior Princess on your cellphone, you'll find how easy it is to make that little piece of elastic into a thong.

[JulieF]

I was doing really great this morning until I read this. Coffee burns the nose, you know. Try not to be so darned hilarious, some of us /need/ our sense of smell! [grins]

This is perfect for printing out and posting as rules- will be sending this to my aunt, she complains about people in the Kimberly-Clark gym! I bet it shows up on the wall there.

[Dawn]

Yet another reason I'm happy to not only work at home, but have my own weight room in the garage. ;)

My pet peeve--and this would go double in a gym where the people are your *co-workers*--is guys who hit on the girls, esp. when we're on the cardio machines. Cuz, you know, we're in the middle of your workout, where can we go to escape? And you just KNOW they realize that. LOL

[Talia]

I'm with Luann. I can't stand it when people don't wipe their sweat off machines and seats. Ugh

[Sean Conrad]

Just a list of reasons why I run outside. Even in the winter!

I don't even want to think about a sauna or steam room at work.

Need to get that image out of my brain... /shudder

[Sherry]

Nice work.
Some other ettiquette issues:

The chronic channel surfing while pretending not to care guy. Pick a channel, stick to it or go home to work out.

The I'm training for a massive marathon and have to log in my time so all of you know I work out more than you person. TMI.

[Beth Guarnieri]

Yes, everyone complains of lack of cleanliness at work-out facilities. I do yoga once a week in a gym that's on the first floor of my apartment building. I'm lucky it's there. Sani- wipes anybody?
bg

[Eddie Lomax]

I don't think that the onsite gym sounds that bad. Although, I guess it's hard to imagine sweating it out next to your coworkers or even your boss...