Gym Etiquette 101 — The Unspoken Rules Everyone Should Know

Every gym has its characters.
The grunters. The plate hoarders. The mirror hogs.
But the truth is: good gym etiquette has nothing to do with how strong you are — and everything to do with how you respect the space, the equipment, and the folk around you.

Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been lifting longer than some people have been alive, these unspoken rules keep the gym running like a well-oiled machine (that smells faintly of chalk and Lynx Africa).

Let’s get into it.

1. Re-Rack Your Weights -- Every. Single. Time.

Honestly, nothing screams "chaos gremlin energy" quite like stepping into the gym and seeing abandoned plates everywhere.

If you have the strength to lift it, you have the strength to put it back.

It takes ten seconds and saves ten arguments.

2. Wipe Down Your Kit

Sweat is natural.

Wiping down the bench after you work at it - that's a good habit. Leaving your DNA on the bench isn't.

A quick wipe is a sign of respect for the next person — and keeps the equipment less… moist.

3. Don't Film People Without Permission

We get it. Content is king.

But do not — under any circumstances — capture random folk in your gym videos.

If someone walks behind you mid-recording, that’s life.

But actively aiming a camera at strangers? Get in the bin.

4. Share the Space (You Don’t Own the Rack)

Between sets?

Step back. Let others work in.

It's a gym, not your private studio.

You can most definitely share, unless of course you're in the middle of a max attempt.

5. Don’t Hog Equipment

How about supersetting calf raises with overhead presses and a 20-minute stairmaster blast, all at once?

Aye… maybe pick one.

Take what you need.

Use what you take.

Then free it up for others.

6. Respect people's focus.

Some folk come in to train, not chat.

Headphones on = “I'm in my bubble.”

Headphones off = maybe you can ask how their day is.

Know the difference.

7. Encourage, Don't Judge

We all started somewhere. Beginners aren’t in the way — they’re joining the community. If someone looks unsure, offer a smile, a thumbs-up, or a “you’ve got this.”

Gyms are better when everyone feels welcome.

The Bottom Line

Gym etiquette is simple: Be considerate. Be neat. Be aware. It's not about following rules, but making sure the gym is a place people want to come back to. When you bring good energy, good energy comes back. And that's what being part of Team Haggis is all about.