How to Be Good

(page 3 of 4)

HOW NOT TO BE A JERK, PART 2: The seven most annoying gym types

1  The Blinder. There you are, working out, struggling through a set, and glancing in the mirror to see if you’re doing it right. Suddenly, all you can see is someone’s sweaty backside. “Some people get so wrapped up in what they’re doing, or who they’re talking to, that they have no idea where they are,” says Greg Shipp, co-owner of HiFi Fitness. “So they drift in front of other people’s sightlines. That’s not right. As egotistical as it may seem, working out in front of a mirror is helpful for a variety of exercises.”

2  The Blocker. This offender stands directly in front of the free weights shelf while others—usually carrying heavy, cumbersome weights—are forced to walk around him. A near relative to the person who hogs the cream-and-sugar counter at the coffee shop.

3  The Close Steamer. The steam room is not a subway car. There is absolutely no reason to sit closer than an arm’s length from your sweating neighbor, and low visibility is no excuse to sit wherever you can. If you are the crowdee, use your towel and fan your way to open space.

4  The Exhibitionist. If you see someone whose gym outfit looks more like underwear, it’s OK to gawk, says David Barton, the founder of the David Barton Gym. “They want to be looked at.”

5 The Poacher. Trainers work with their clients in public, so they don’t necessarily mind it when nonpaying customers listen in. Still, be discreet: Don’t follow along too closely or ask questions while you eavesdrop.

6  The Stinker. If you think you smell just a little, you really smell a whole lot. If someone stinks, alert the manager. “It’s awkward,” Barton says, “but they will suggest the person clean up.” 

7  The Naturalist. First, let’s just say that this particular villain is found everywhere, but particularly in the yoga class. Men should wear underwear, period.

 
 

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