Skip to main content

Let's Talk About The Gym: Etiquette 101

Two things I lack in life.  Motivation and self-control when it comes to fitness.

I tried working out at home to my little Jillian Michaels DVD, but it was hardly anything to get me excited about.  So about a month ago, we joined the gym for the 14th bajillionth time.  We quit the gym when we moved to glorious Johnson County because the branch close to us sucks. 

It was probably just my attitude at the time.  At my old gym I had buddies to be accountable to.  They expected me to show up to go on runs and work out, so I was more motivated to go.  The classes were amazing and kicked my butt.   But I couldn't justify the gas to drive all the way to my old gym when the closest branch now is a 2 miles jog away.  

Well, here we are, still stuck in JoCo--but I had to suck it up and start back at the gym.  New people.  No friends.  And all geriatric versions of my old classes.  

As I am finding a few classes that I can somewhat enjoy, I am still finding myself totally irritated by the lack of  gym etiquette of some peeps out here that I didn't seem to notice at my old gym.

  1. Clean off your machine.  No one wants to get on a machine that you have drenched with you nasty man (or woman) sweat.  
  2. If I am working out on a treadmill and there are 17 other open treadmills, don't get on the one right next to me.
  3. Keep your eyes on your own machine.  Stop peaking over to see how fast I am going, or how long I've been running.  If you want to race, just say so and we can take it out to the parking lot.  More than likely, you will kick my tail; but at least you weren't rude and creepy about doing so.  So stop it.  Stop looking at me and gloating.  Ya, that's right--I am panting and about to pass out 15 minutes into my run on a speed of 5 mph...say something.
  4. Don't talk on your phone or Bluetooth while you are working out.  You just appear...silly.  And no one cares to hear your conversation. 
  5. Strangers in the locker room, please stop lurking and trying to spark small talk when I am in the middle of changing clothes.  a. I am probably running late to class anyway & b.  I am not really interested in small talk chit-chat with a stranger when I am half naked.  
Now let's talk about etiquette during fitness classes.  
  1. Kickboxing is probably one of my favorite classes, except when I have to share a bag with peeps who just don't get it.  The instructor is giving you a beat to hit to for multiple reasons.  When you hit off beat--you're making things difficult for both of us.  Not only does it throw me off from the rest of the class, but the bag ends up dancing all over the room.  When you hit at the same time, the bag moves a lot less.  It really is simple physics.  But on top of being exhausted from the workout, I don't want to have to spend the entire class chasing the bag around and scooting it back to the starting place because it is getting in other peoples' way.
  2. Once again, keep your eyes on your own business.  There is nothing like being in the middle of a yoga pose when you feel like the chick next to you is staring you down.  I pick a spot a few feet in front of me on the floor and stare at it.  And when the instructor keeps saying, "There's is no comparing in Yoga, we are all on our own personal journey..blah, blah blah.."  She's talking to you sister.  Get the hint.  

Well I am done with my grumbling.  I need to hit the showers while the kid is still napping.  

Namaste Duchess....

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fruit & Root Connection: Tangled Up

Certainly, I've expressed my aversion to hyper-spiritualized language before. It often feels contrived, lacking authenticity—a facade of piety. Perhaps it's projection. Maybe jealousy. Or it could stem from a sense of disillusionment with the Christian community. But every so often, amidst the noise, a truth resonates deeply. "There is a root and fruit connection between heart and behavior. People and situations do not determine our behavior; these things provide an occasion where our behavior reveals our hearts." - Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands I've been navigating through my anger, confronting myself in the mirror. What does this anger unveil about my own heart? Surely, they aren't as enraged with me. In fact, they probably don't spare me a second thought. If anything, they—as sincerely as they can muster—bemoan my status as an apostate. So pitiful. My fruit is anger. And too often, I'm tempted to point fingers elsewhere as the source of my...

If Your Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands....

Alright y'all, I need to post an actual blog post.  It's been awhile.I guess I have said " writers block".  Everytime I've sat down to blog, I've gotten this nasty attitude, like I just want to rant and complain.  I'm not a fan of giving a bad mood more than it deserves or letting people get on my nerves enough that it bleeds in my blog in the most passive-aggressive way possible.  So I won't go there this time.  Focusing on what I'm thankful for has been such a great practice, and has helped me avoid the above.  So here goes nothing.....I'll update a little bit on everthing I suppose.... Finally, life is beginning to slow down.I am so appreciative of the fact that the moving/settling in process is over ( only to do it all again in T minus 5 months....) In theory, there should be a big hole where our next house will be soon. For some reason I doubt that they will break ground this week, but I would be happy if they did...I'm stressed and ...

Never Say When

At some point in my journey, I forgot that church leaders are flawed humans too. I have a tendency to overly respect authority for the sake of their position. I assumed, being a pastor meant that there is some how a higher spiritual connection. Consequently, I would turn off my own discernment in favor for whatever I was being instructed to do by our church leader. The person I have grown to distrust the most and the person I betrayed the most was myself.  Examples: Early in our journey, we had a small group. For the most part, I LOVED small group nights. Until we had a change of seasons. I had just had my third baby. We were living in a rental property while renovating another home ourselves. I was working on leading our developing children's ministry and feeling over my head. Ian worked afternoons so either small group would take one of only two family nights or would be when he was working, leaving me to attend alone most of the time. Our small group had roughly 10-15 small chil...