Your top tips of navigating the gym

This blog will discuss gym etiquette. It will include how to become more comfortable at the gym, some top tips and how to make the most of your sessions. My name is Leila and I am generally new to the gym myself. I used to go a lot when I was younger around 16 and I had a good routine of gym and swim but once I went to college and then uni, I got out of the routine.

Last year I knew I wanted to get back into the gym to become overall fitter and healthier. So in September when I got back to uni I decided it would be a good time to get back into it. I have been since aiming to go twice a week and it has been going pretty well. I was nervous at first but now I enjoy it, I am going to give you my top tips on how to feel comfortable and enjoy your time at the gym.

Firstly, here is some typical gym etiquette...

• Clean up after yourself, generally wiping down the machine is a good practice to keep the gym hygienic and clean.
• Don’t hog the machine for too long- 30 minutes max per machine if it is busy or if there is only one or two of the machines that you are on.
• Ensure you're wearing headphones instead of playing music out loud.
• Ensure you have a lock for the lockers- this is something I didn’t realise but it is a great tip. A large lock from B&M is good but they also have them in vending machines at the gym.
• Leave some room between you and others, if theres a machine spare two treadmills away choose this instead of right next to someone.

Some top gym techniques on how to feel comfortable at the gym and what to do are as follows-

• Make sure you warm up. This will lessen the pain of the next day and ensure your body is ready for the workout. There are some great ones on YouTube and TikTok.Take it slow, don’t try and do the most intense stuff on your first session, start with the easier stuff and work your way up.
• Ensure you drink lots of water before during and after.
• Download a good podcast or TV show. This can make your time on the machines go by quicker and offer you some entertainment.
• Try and create a good routine. Pick a couple days of the week you want to go to the gym and stick to them.
• Watch YouTube for tips on how to use any routines you aren’t sure about.
• Ensure you have eaten a couple of hours beforehand. Not too soon beforehand as you may get cramps, but it is important you have some energy to workout.
• Check out the student discounts. Pure Gym and JD gyms often do student discounts with cheaper rates and lower sign-up fees. The university gym also has some great facilities for good prices with classes too.

Overall, try not to get too worried. Everyone at the gym is doing their own thing and is worried about themselves rather than you. Whilst it can be really daunting and feel like everyone is looking at you, they aren’t. They are more concerned about themselves and what they are doing at the gym. So just try and take it in your stride and enjoy it how you can.

I hope you have a great time getting fit at the gym!