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Working Out
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More gym manners
Originally Published: May 30, 2003
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Alice, There's a sign above the cross-trainers at my gym that says "use only for thirty minutes, if members are waiting." I was on a machine for 35 minutes when the manager asked me to get off, because someone was waiting. Apparently, this machine is this guy's "favorite" machine and he wanted to use it, even though there were 3 other empty machines. What's the protocol here? I pay for my gym membership, just like the next guy. I feel like he is being given special treatment.
Dear Reader, Right on: health club membership has its privileges, but instant access to one's favorite machines when identical, empty ones are available isn't one of them. If you read the long ago posted Q&A, Gym manners, in Alice's Fitness and Nutrition archive, you know that this etiquette queen believes that good fitness center citizenship and better workouts go hand-in-hand. Gym managers need to do everything they can to create an environment that enhances healthy physical activity — especially for users who may find gyms intimidating, scary, and not worthy of continued visits if they don't feel on an equal footing with those around them. Now, the club fees you pay do give you the right to talk with management about this incident. You might ask to see their membership rules — something that should be posted for all to see. And, if it helps the case for easier, enjoyable, and more effective exercise, permission is hereby granted also to post the Gym manners Q&A that was contributed to by gym-goers who, similar to you, break a sweat over hurdles to good health.
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