Do you have good manners in the gym?

Whether you are a veteran gym rat or a newbie, it’s good to know basic health club etiquette. Although health clubs have a code of conduct, every gym has unwritten rules that help show respect towards other members.

1. Always carry a towel. Wipe sweat off the equipment and benches with a towel or anti-bacterial wipes provided by the gym. It’s really gross to sit in someone else’s sweat!
2. Share the equipment. When resting between sets, don't camp out on the machine. If someone asks, let them do a set in between during your rest period. If you're on your last set and ready to complete it, go ahead. If someone's standing near a machine, ask if they are using it before you get on.
3. Put the weights back where they belong. Return all the weight plates, and return the dumbbells to their spot on the rack. Make sure they are secure on the rack so they don’t fall off and injure someone.

4. Don't drop your weights. Carefully place the weights on the floor when you're finished with a set.

5. Don't crowd people. Respect personal space. Leave some space for the person next to you to lift his or her arms in all directions. If you are less than an arms length away, you’re too close!

6. Minimize cell phone usage. In the gym, you're cell phone conversations are interrupting the concentration of people trying to work out. If you have to have your phone with you at least turn the ringer to "vibrate" and tell the caller you'll get back to them.

7. Wear clothes that cover your body. This is also showing respect to others. Not everyone wants to look at your bulging biceps, outdated short-shorts or over exposed cleavage.

8. Skip the gym when your sick with a contagious illness. Your spreading a lot of virus on the machines and giving it to the rest of us!