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ACE Offers Five Tips To Help Consumers Feel Comfortable In The Gym
Fitting In At The Gym Doesn't Have To Be A Challenge

Posted: Jul 12, 2005 in

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – July 12, 2005 – The gym can be an intimidating place, especially for those new to exercise. But paying close attention to proper gym etiquette is the best way to ensure you aren’t a nuisance at the gym. The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s nonprofit fitness authority, offers five tips on how to blend in with the regulars.

“Gym intimidation can be a significant factor preventing individuals from reaping the many important benefits of exercise,” said Dr. Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for ACE. “Walking through the club doors is the first step, but building your comfort zone at the gym starts with respecting others around you.”

Review these simple tips to make sure you don’t offend fellow gym goers.

1. Don’t be rude. Avoid lingering on machines too long, blaring your music, singing noisily, grunting excessively while working out or talking loudly on your cell phone.
2. Maintain good hygiene. The gym is a public place, be considerate and leave all the machines clean after using them. Wipe your sweat off the equipment once you’re finished.
3. Restack your weights. Don’t leave someone else to do your dirty work, restack your weights for the next user. Making someone remove weights that are too heavy could place them at risk for injury.
4. Stay back when starting a group exercise class. When joining a new group exercise class with detailed choreography, stand near the back of the room and let the experienced group workout near the front. Also, respect the limited space of others in the class and keep your arms and legs at a reasonable distance from others.
5. Hire a personal trainer. There’s no better way to learn the ins and outs of the gym than working with a trainer. He or she can show you how to safely and properly use the equipment in the facility. Before hiring a personal trainer, check that he or she is certified by a credible organization such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s Authority on Fitness, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation’s “workout watchdog,” ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world’s largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitnessorg.