LUXURY GYM ETIQUETTE By Carlos

By dictionary definition, the customary code of polite behavior in society among members of a particular profession or group. In the above photo I’m working with a client right in the middle of the main walking at the gym I work in.I reached out to management before to make sure it was cool too train a client in this area. Hey some may not like it. My goal was simple: put my value on display for all members to see. Hey maybe some of them thought it was rude, but my intensions were good from a business standpoint.

Rules of etiquette are all about courtesy and respect. Some common rules of the gym are:

• No phone conversations
• No gym-shaming ( your workout is the only workout that matters)
• Re -rack your weights

For the record, I work amongst the coolest crowd of people. Everyone is cordial, and for the most part very serious about fitness. It’s great to interact with a group like this on a regular basis, the sophisticated meatheads of the world. So with a comical, sarcastic (yet firm perspective) lets go through Carlos’s gym etiquette:

• Towels on the floor- Not the used ones, but the towels that’s the hard working maintenance team just washed, and now an entire stack is on the floor. All because someone has poor hand eye coordination and knocked over the entire stack reaching for 1 towel.NOT COOL at all. At luxury gyms the maintenance is the backbone. They’re literally the reason that members pay such a premium, keeping luxury gyms held to Ritz -Carlton standards. Your rates should be raised just for this. Pay attention folks!
• Get off the mirror- Yes I see you curling those 10 pound weights, looking jacked bro! Yes the purpose of the mirror is for form check. But your Saturday night specials will look the same if you step a few feet back. Let other people get to the weights.
• So you really do want to work with a personal trainer???- Hey thats cool!And I’m glad to help. I see you sitting on the machine right next to me and my client ear hustling. Just keep a distance. Our clients pay for our services. Finish up your crappy (ok somewhat crappy, because all movement is good) workout and talk to me when I’m done working with my client.Ill be glad to assist you.
• Locker Room Police!!! Mount Up!!!- YeahI know its the locker room. And you just finished your tough workout( even though I saw it and I thought it was terrible ). Now you’ve gotta shower up for the day. But seriously, towel up bro. Free balling is an issue. If I were the locker room police, major citations would be handed out for this violation.I shouldn’t have to walk through the locker room in the Philly shell. defensive formation like Floyd Mayweather.
• Congrats on the PR: Ok, so you just set a personal record of deadlifting 50 pounds. Hey, congratulations bro! Now set the weight down in a mannerly form(yes I know its very heavy).
• Have a eucalyptus towel: Eucalyptus towels are the “Nice cold beer finish” of the workout. Everybody deserves one. Now please close the cooler so others can also enjoy a nice cold towel after the their workout. It doesn’t take but a half second to do so.
• Be On Time for Group Fitness- Otherwise you’ll spend the next 45 minutes walking on the treadmill. But if this is you, I have a great idea, HIRE a personal trainer.
• Yes, we’re letting know that were closing in 3 minutes because: We’re about to close. OK, go home.

Yes, I poke a lot of sarcastic humor at working in a luxury gym. But it truly is awesome. As far as etiquette, lets all chime in on what’s appropriate.