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Whether you are a gym newbie who still managed to keep up with your fitness regimen after your impulsive gym sign-up at New Years, or that you are a fitness veteran who sees regular workouts as a lifestyle, at some point in our lives we have frowned upon some social faux pas committed by our fellow gym-goers.

We’ve all been there – there’s always someone who treats the gym as their personal phone booth or uses hair dryers to blow dry elsewhere on their body aside from their hair on their head. As we release our disgust through an angry social media post about our experience, we began to wonder if we may have accidentally violated any protocol at the gym.

Louis Doctrove

Photo courtesy of Topfit

Don’t sweat it, here are the 7 most common and aggravating gym missteps, according to fitness gurus Louis Doctrove, lead trainer at Topfit and Janet Wahlquist, the head personal trainer at Fitness Compass. Read on to see if you are guilty of any of these seven maddening gym traits.

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Sharing is caring

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When someone asks if they can “work in with you” in the weight room, the polite answer is usually “yes”. “I would let the person know what my current set is and how many more I have left so that we both know what to expect and how to plan the workout flow,” says Wahlquist.

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Don’t be afraid to say no

Photo courtesy of Topfit 

Given that equipment sharing during peak hours is a polite gesture at gym, many people often feel obliged to say yes even if this may potentially effect their workout results.   

“Give the person asking a quick once over, if he or she looks like they are at a lower level than you and will hinder your workout don't be afraid to say no,” says Doctrove. “Having to rack and re-rack weights to complete all your sets just because someone couldn't wait a few minutes until you're done makes no sense in the long run.”

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Be loud and proud

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Let’s face it – being the newbie at a class at gym reminds us of that terrifying feeling of being the new kid at school.

Combat that “gymtimidation” by arriving early and let the instructor know that you are new to the class, says Wahlquist. Instead of hiding in the back, newbies should actually stand on the side at the front row so that the instructor can engage them without drawing unwanted attention from the entire class. After all, you want to make the most of your class by hearing and seeing what the instructor says and demonstrates.

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The respect of space during peak hours

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If you are a regular gym-goer, you know how frustrated it can be when you are stuck in the ‘gym traffic’ as you end up having to wait for half an hour to go on the treadmill after a long day of work.

“Peak hours are also not the time to be trying to run a circuit session, using several machines or pieces of equipment at once”, says Doctrove. “If you want to do circuit training, try your best to avoid the peak hours and get your sessions done when it is less crowded.”

If you are doing exercises with bigger movements or ones that require a lot of room, it’s also good to alert anyone near you so they know to give you some space for safety, adds Wahlquist.

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The gym is not a phone booth

Photo courtesy of Topfit 

Don’t be that person who get angry stares by the others as you tell your BFF about your night out shenanigans while sitting on a popular machine for an hour.

According to Wahlquist, if you have an important call to take, the best thing to do is to let your trainer know before the beginning of the session. For those who are training on your own, try to take the call in the lobby or in the changing room so you don’t take other people’s focus away from their workouts.

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Do your homework before hiring a personal trainer

Photo courtesy of Topfit 

For gym newbies who are likely to pass on their workouts for happy hours after work, hiring a personal trainer will help keeping your fitness game plan on track. “Before speaking to a trainer at the gym, take a look at their profiles on the website and arrange a trial session with them,” remarks Wahlquist.

You should also be clear about your goals when you speak to them and see what they recommend, then really think about whether he or she is someone who you feel comfortable working with before you engage them for the long term.

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The gym is not a fashion show

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Leave your skin-tight tube top and barely-there short shorts at home and wear outfits that actually suit your exercises during your training. “Tie your hair up if you have long hair or clip your fringe if you have one so that your hair isn’t in the way. You should be using your hands for training, not for grooming your hair!” says Wahlquist.

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