Hey Grand Junction It’s Time for Another Gym Etiquette Reminder

Last night's shoulder workout suffered a 30-minute delay while another gym member used the shoulder-press bench as a phone booth. Perhaps it's time for a Grand Junction gym etiquette refresher course.

We're rolling into colder weather. Summer activities are tapering off. You know what that means - Grand Junction gyms are about to get busier. Here are ten ways we can make this Colorado's best gym season ever.

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Why Join a Gym in the First Place?

In this day and age, you can buy excellent at-home workout equipment at reasonable prices. Why leave the house and travel to a health club? The answer is simple - atmosphere and focus. Your workouts can benefit from the energy of other people. Unfortunately, they can get derailed when gym etiquette goes out the window.

Gym time is precious; make the most of it. When on the gym floor, use the time as an opportunity to unplug. Shut the cell phone off. Better yet, leave it in the car. Last night I lost count of the number of people who sat at a bench or machine talking on the phones.

The universal rules of gym etiquette are ultimately very simple. Watch the instructional video, and we'll have a short refresher afterward.

To Headphone or Not To Headphone?

Recently, I've taken up wearing headphones while at the gym. I used to be opposed to this. Some of the top fitness coaches in the industry advise against wearing headphones. They have the potential to be a distraction.

On the other hand, some people find headphones motivate them to maintain a steady, energetic pace. In my case, though, there is a tendency to get lost in the audio and waste too much time between sets.

I'm Just As Guilty

I've angered a handful of people during my gym career. I wear bifocals 24/7. At the gym, though, I prefer to take my glasses off. In the past, my glasses have fallen off and broken. On other occasions, between sweat and movement, my glasses tend to slide off my nose, creating a major distraction right in the middle of my lift.

With my glasses off I'm blind as a bat. As a result, I tend to stagger around the gym bumping into things and people. I've had a few people get upset with me because they thought I was staring at them, invading their personal space. Actually, I was trying to figure out where I was at and where I was going next.

Ten Helpful Gym Etiquette Tips to Remember As Things Get Busy

Here are a few helpful suggestions courtesy of Lifefitness.com: