I love it. Each year, I get a request to run my “fitness etiquette” column again. We all keep saying “use common sense,” but as we all have experienced, common sense is not common at all anymore.

The following are fitness etiquettes in no specific order:

• Wear comfortable clothes. However, make sure they cover all that needs to be covered. Men, make sure that all things stay in your shorts. Women, make sure all your parts are covered. A good sports bra is a must, especially if you are well-endowed. Ask what the dress code is at your place of workout, it can be very different from what you are used to.

• Athletic shoes are highly recommended. If you don’t have them, make sure you wear closed shoes. Flip flops, open-toe shoes and Crocs are a no-no. That includes no muddy boots please!

• Please wear deodorant. Just because you don’t smell yourself does not mean we don’t smell you.

• Flip side of that, don’t wear excess perfume or after shave. If we can still smell you after you left, you are wearing too much.

• Please put bags and/or coats out of other people’s way. The locker room is a great place to put them. Dropping it where you work out is not an option. The benches are to sit on, not to put your stuff on.

• Don’t hog the equipment. Shorter, high-quality workouts will get you to your goal sooner. When conversing extensively, get up from equipment and enjoy your conversation. Update your Twitter, Facebook or Instagram when not sitting on workout equipment. That’s where the benches are for.

• Don’t sing along with your music please, especially with earphones in. Enough said.

• Don’t sing out loud in a place of business, that is where your shower at home is for. Or church choir, praise band, music group, etc. It’s all about respect right?

• Use headphones when listening to your own music, YouTube, videos, etc. Too many people are blaring their phones with their music out loud. This issue seems to have gotten a lot worse. If everyone would do this, it truly becomes chaos.

• We really can hear everything you are saying when you are on the phone. Do you really want all of us to know your business? And if the answer is yes, we don’t want to hear about your business.

• Don’t put gum or boogers in or under anything except for the garbage cans.

• Wash your clothes after each workout. Just because you took them out of the gym bag and they dried does not mean they are clean. “Just dry” will not get the smell out. If you wear workout gloves, check them — they might need to get washed or thrown away.

• Please wipe the machines down after you are done, however, do not over spray them either. We have cleaning cloths you can use for your workout, which are washed after each workout. Using a towel to lie/sit on works too, still clean the handles and everything else you touched. And please leave them at the Y. If you take home by accident, just bring back the next time.

• Re-rack your weights when you get done. Your mother still doesn’t work here and not everyone can lift the same weights. Before you move on to something else, that piece needs to be cleaned and re-racked, even if you are planning to come back.

• Do not drop your dumbbells or barbell. It not only tears up the equipment, we are not impressed.

• Not everyone wants to talk while working out. If they don’t talk back, it is a good indicator they are not interested in conversing.

• And do not give unwanted advice, especially if you do not have the credentials.

• Please do not lift more you can handle. If you consistently can’t do the weight, you are lifting too much.

• Don’t scream while lifting. First of all it, scares us thinking someone got hurt. If you use that intensity of the scream internally, you will be able to lift a lot more.

• When on a treadmill and you need to use the bathroom or get a drink of water, shut down the treadmill. It will run a couple of minutes without someone on it, enough time for someone to step on it and fall off, not seeing the moving belt. There are markers on the belt, but people don’t expect a treadmill to be running. When using the treadmill, use the clip. It will stop the treadmill in case you trip and fall, and you won’t fly off the back.

It is all about respect isn’t it? It’s one of the YMCA core values. Not only respect for all people but also respect for equipment and environments. Be kind, be healthy, laugh a lot and take responsibility for your own actions.

And I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2025! 

Ester H. Marsh is associate executive director and director of healthy living of the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA.