Kevin Rzepecki – Photography Director

In recent years, it has been estimated that 185 million people attend the gym world-wide, and with New Years coming up, that number will surely increase. Whether you want to join a gym as a part of your New Year’s resolution or if you just want to start to improve your mental and physical health, it’s important to know how to make the most of your journey.

As you begin your gym experience, it’s important to have proper gym etiquette. Respecting the equipment and the people there is a way to keep the gym a sanctuary and meet new amazing people.

Respecting the equipment can be done through small gestures. First off, it’s important to wipe down all equipment when you finish your exercise. Most gyms have paper towels and spray bottles along the walls, so look for the nearest one and clean up after yourself. No one likes a weight hog!

If you feel like you need to go lighter, put the weight that you were just using back on the rack in case someone else needs it. There are exceptions to this; for example, if you are doing a drop set, then it is ok to have 2 sets of dumbbells next to you. A drop set is when you start to hit muscular failure in a specific workout, so you go lighter as a way to push your muscles and shorten your workout time if you are in a rush.

Going to the gym can be scary and intimidating at first, but don’t let that stop you from being the best you you can be.