Health Club Etiquette

I can relate to many of the people who regularly go healthclubs to workout, as I occasionally get into a groove where I go a lot. It makes me feel good, gives me energy and help keeps (some of) the fat at bay. I usually enjoy being around like-minded people.

I guess that is why it especially pisses me off when people at the gym show little or no consideration for anyone else but themselves. It has happened at every gym I have ever gone to, so it is not a problem confined to a single company, location or part of the country. I currently belong to Epicenter Fitness and go to the location in Bellevue Place in downtown Bellevue. The facilities are great, the employees friendly and I have made a few friends while exercising there.

Nonetheless, I do have a few rants about some of their clients (I guess they could be guests of the Hyatt hotel next door - as they also are allowed use of the facilities.

This morning there were three things that happened that just should not happen in a gym - or anywhere else where people have common courtesy.

1. I was in the middle of a long session of cardio, wearing headphones and watching the news. Two young ladies got on the machines next to me and proceeded to gab incessantly. The matter was made worse by the fact that they both also had headphones on, which made them have to speak (yell?) louder to each other. It's not that I don't care about people, but I really don't need (or want) to hear about a complete stranger's shopping trip to the mall, or how she thinks that her boyfriend is cheating on her. It's just none of my business - and I really just wanted to work out and watch the news in peace.

2. The well-meaning gentleman who wanted to adhere to club rules and wipe down his machine after done using it. That is great - but he should not be spraying the cleaning chemicals into the air - or into the faces of other members. If I want to be exposed to the noxious odors, I'll spray myself in the face. Next time - please spray the cleaner directly onto the paper towel (not onto the machine) and do it away from other people so they are not forced to smell and inhale these chemicals.

3. The middle-aged woman who apparently was hot (and bothered?) before she even stepped onto the cardio machine. Without asking me or anyone else around her, she turned the fan next to me and the machine I was on full blast before getting on a machine next to me. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but for me, who has two herniated discs in my neck it is a major problem. You see, when I am warm (and halfway through my cardio workout), I cannot have wind (or a fan) blowing on me, or it severely tightens up my neck muscles and causes me a lot of pain for the rest of the day. It would have been a considerate thing for her to ask me if I minded and I would have explained so she could use a different machine starting out. Instead I was forced to change the machine I was using.

Anyone else out there have any similar experiences or other health club etiquette they would like to share?