July 8th, 2010
Hey,
So I’ve been slacking a little on my blog, I missed last week so I’ll try to make it up by making this blog phenomenal in every way. I guess you could say I have a severe case of writers block. I keep trying to make each post better and better that I get half way through writing one and delete it because it’s not good enough. But I’ll make it through this one for sure. I just want to talk about some weight room etiquette. Now please don’t take this and read it and think that all of a sudden you don’t want to try to work out in fear that you’re doing something wrong, or people will look negatively at you. If you follow some of my advice, you’ll be fine in every weight room scenario.
First of all, be careful who you take advice from. Trust me, I see the irony that I’m giving you advice on not taking peoples advice. But I’m just saying that there is some great advice, and some really bad advice. Even myself, I have a university degree, some certifications and a lot of practical experience. But I know I’ve probably given out some bad advice before. Even the most well intentioned advice can still be wrong. Just know where it’s coming from, and think about it critically so you can make your own decision.
Secondly, don’t be “That Guy”. You know the one, the loudest grunter in the gym, the guy always dropping the weights really hard, the guy who tries to lift way more than he could possibly lift, the guy always swinging the weights to do those extra reps, etc. It’s fine to stand out, you can be the friendly guy, or the helpful guy, or the good looking guy, or what ever. Just don’t be “That Guy”. And yes this applies to ladies aswell; you have your own special cases too.
Thirdly, don’t take up equipment unnecessarily. If you’re only using one cable, don’t take up the whole cross-over. If you know you spend a lot of time on one piece of equipment, allow people to work in.
This one is VERY IMPORTANT. Put your weights and equipment away. I watched a guy yesterday do 2 sets on every bar, machine, and you name it and never put a single piece away. This could fall under “That Guy” again but is so crucial it needs its own spot. On top of this, put it back properly, I hate when I have to move a few 45lbs plates just to get to a 10lbs plate buried underneath it all. It’s not that hard to put your equipment back.
And my last point. Ask for help when you need it. There are usually people working in the gyms that are there to help you when you. Not all, but most, and either way, other people are usually pretty willing to help out. Whether you need a spot or need to know how to use the equipment properly. Just remember the first point and make sure they know what they are talking about.
Pierce Hnatiuk, BPE, CSCS, CPT High Performance Strength & Conditioning Coach Alberta Sport Development Centre – NW Grande Prairie Regional College phone: 780-539-2040 phnatiuk@gprc.ab.ca