GYM ETIQUETTE & LINGO

DOS & DON’TS IN THE GYM

  • PLEASE RESPECT OUR GYM RULES: Our rules are in place to ensure that each member has the best experience possible at our facility. Just because you do not understand or agree with a rule does not mean you may break it. Ignorance of the rules is also not an excuse. Our rules are displayed at the front desk and can also be found in the FAQ section of our website. Violation of our rules and policies may result in termination of your membership.

  • ALWAYS ASK: If someone is using a machine or piece of equipment and you need something nearby, ask if you can. If you would like to use someone’s piece of equipment while they are resting, always ask first. Don’t just jump on as soon as they get off. If you adjusted the weight during your turn, it’s always polite to change them back when you’re finished.

  • DO NOT DROP WEIGHTS: The weights in our facility are not meant to be dropped. This includes free weights such as squat racks, deadlift bars, and dumbbells- bars and plates can crack, not to mention the potential damage to the floor. Pin selectorized weight machines can also be severely damaged by dropping the weights- the plates can easily crack, as well as create damage the pulley systems. If you can’t do the rep without dropping the weights, you’re going too heavy. Please respect all equipment in the facility.

  • PUT YOUR WEIGHTS & EQUIPMENT BACK: No one wants to search the facility for weights or equipment. For extra points, if you find something out of place, please put it back where it goes. Don’t leave your weights on the ground. Not only is it rude, but dangerous as well. Also, don’t leave machines loaded up with weights so that someone else has to unrack it. Similarly, keep the equipment where it belongs. Dragging benches, boxes, weights, etc. out of their designated area lends to the potential for damaging the equipment and flooring as well as creating a dangerous atmosphere.

  • WIPE DOWN YOUR EQUIPMENT AFTER USE: We recommend that you grab some paper towels and disinfectant spray, located in various spots in the facility, and wipe down your equipment both before and after use. Although we dedicate ourselves to keeping our facility as clean as possible, gyms are an obvious reservoir for germs. Viruses love nonporous surfaces such as steel weights. So, for both your own sake and the sake of other members, clean off your equipment.

  • SELFIES: Try to be discreet about them. Please keep your clothing on and don’t infringe on anyone else’s gym experience. And no pictures of anyone else unless you have their permission.

  • PERSONAL SPACE: Respect it. Don’t crowd someone who is using a piece of equipment you want. Give others space to perform their exercises safely.

  • DON’T HOG EQUIPMENT: Please don’t stay at one station for half an hour when other people might want to use it. Others may be waiting for you to finish even if they don’t say anything to you. Don’t rest on a piece of equipment (even while looking at your phone). Move through the exercise in a timely manner or get off of the station in between sets so that someone else can do a set while you rest.

  • DRESS APPROPRIATELY: Shirts are required at all times. Clean shoes are appreciated to help keep our facility clean.

  • MUSIC: We realize that many people enjoy listening to music while exercising. However, we don’t all enjoy the same music, nor do we all enjoy the same volume. Therefore, our policy is that music may only be enjoyed with headphones/earbuds in order to ensure a pleasant gym experience for everyone.

DEFINITIONS

  • IMPACT: Impact is the amount of force on your body, especially bones and joints, during an exercise or workout.
    Lower impact exercises are moves in which your body remains in contact with the ground, such as walking or squats.
    Higher impact exercises are moves in which both feet or arms leave the ground at the same time, such as jumping rope or push-ups with a clap.

  • INTENSITY: Intensity is the amount of exertion, effort, difficulty, or energy you put into your workout.
    Intensity can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of weight used in an exercise or by moving through the sets more quickly or slowly.

  • REP: A "rep,” short for "repetition," is a single execution of an exercise. One pushup is one rep, and 10 pushups are 10 reps.

  • SET: A "set" is a collection of reps. If your goal is to complete 20 pushups, you might break your workout up into two sets of 10 reps.

  • FLEXION: Movement that decreases the angle between two body parts, bringing the body parts closer together. Flexion at the elbow is decreasing the angle between the ulna and the humerus, bringing the hand closer to the shoulder. Flexion at the knee is decreasing the angle between the femur and tibia, bringing the ankle closer to the buttock.

  • EXTENSION: Movement that increases the angle between two body parts, moving the body parts farther away from each other. Extension at the elbow is increasing the angle between the ulna and the humerus, or straightening the arm by moving the hand farther away from the shoulder. Extension at the knee is increasing the angle between the femur and the tibia, or straightening the leg by moving the ankle farther away from the buttock.

  • ABDUCTION: Movement away from the midline – just as abducting someone is to take them away. For example, abduction of the shoulder raises the arms out to the sides of the body.

  • ADDUCTION: Movement towards the midline. For example, adduction of the hip squeezes the legs together.