Excited to have some pink on my blog… clearly my white, light gray and navy just aren’t cutting it anymore. But I did add orange to the bottom. I’m proud to introduce Carlyn from JustKeepSweating.com. Her journey is amazing and seriously, this lady is ALWAYS working out. Guess the blog title fits. Take it away Carlyn:
* * * *
Hey there Pavement Runner readers! I am Carlyn, and I blog over on JustKeepSweating.com. I started my blog to document my continuing weight loss journey, my adventures in fitness and delicious food I eat and make. You will also find pictures and stories of my dogs, friends, family… my life is an open blog.
A lot of my workouts take place in a gym, in fitness classes so I wanted to talk to all of you about “Group Fitness Class Etiquette.”
1. If you show up late to the class, stay in the back.
Do not cut in front of someone who was already there and already has his or her groove.
2. If you’re new or a beginner, stay in the back.
I can NEVER understand why someone who is new to a class just jumps right in the front, behind the teacher like they know what to expect. It really can ruin the class for others.
3. Please leave the perfume at home.
This is just a recipe for disaster.
4. Avoid dyeing your hair the night before/morning of.
Yes, this has happened to me. A woman dyed her roots the night before, and as soon as she started sweating all you could smell was hair dye. It was awful.
5. If your class involves weights, put them back when you are done.
You would be surprised how many people DON’T do this one. As much as I love showing off my super heavy, 8 lb. pink weights, I wouldn’t want anyone to have to put them away for me!
If you follow these 5 tips you’ll be destined for greatness in ANY group fitness class.
Blog: justkeepsweating.com
Twitter: @juskeepsweating
Facebook: facebook.com/justkeepsweating
Have you noticed any of these things when taking a class?
Is there anything that has happened during a class that I didn’t mention? Let me know!
* * * *
Thanks Carlyn. I promise, I’ll be doing my “Stella Got Her Groove” thang in the back of the class. And to be honest, I have taken step classes before. They are fun and a great workout. That is all.
Advertisement:
LAUGHED OUT LOUD AT NUMBER 4.
once upon a time I had my hair streaked PURPLE.
(professionally too!)
and when I began to sweat it all came off.
allll over me.
at the gym.
my life is one big cautionary tale!
Hahaha, MizFit beat me too it! What an adorable post! We all have those crazy experiences at the gym and people should know some of these things but they don’t think it applies to them….especially the perfume thing!
I personally stay in the back when I do group workouts just because I like to. I have heard from other people who are “newbies” that they like to stand by the instructor so they can see exactly what the “moves” are.
Oh my word! My worst pet peeve was when people would come in late and cram themselves in front of me so they could be in the front!!! I would say too…don’t hoard the weights!
People wearing perfume at a class just sounds awful.
I definitely agree with staying to the back if you’re new… and am not a fan of perfume in class, either!
ok i can’t stop laughing about the dying your hair!! definitely good reminders about really just being considerate of others!
I coooompletely agree with you on #1 – if you’re late, don’t make a fuss. Just sneak in the back and no one will hurt you.
I disagree with #2, though. I think location for newbies is personal, and newbies could benefit from being in the front row (maybe not front and CENTER, but near the front) so they can SEE the instructor, and so the instructor can see if they’re doing something wrong and help fix it.
And the rest are funny yet necessary! Thanks for sharing
I love all these tips! Especially beginners in the front! Confuses everyone else sometimes
Great advice. I’d also add to tell the teacher that you are new if it’s your first time. It might seem scary, but the teacher will keep an eye on you an make sure your form is correct helping you to avoid injury.
Love the list!
Carlyn, love your blog!
But, one thing that I believe different about is having new people stand in the back. Being a group exercise instructor (Body Attack and RPM), I am a firm believe that new people should stand close the instructor. If there are regulars in the class who know what they are doing, they can stand anywhere and still do it. New participants need to be able to see what the instructor is doing. The instructor also needs to be able to clearly see the participant so that they can coach effectively and help that new participant get a great workout and learn the class quickly! If they newbie stands in the back, there is much less chance of that happening.
As I was wrapping up my own spin workout, people were setting up for a pump class. This woman was taking weights off the rack and just dropping them on the floor by her ‘station’. Literally, just tossing her weights. For a class that’s all about constant resistance + cardio for 50 minutes, I thought that was beyond lazy that she couldn’t place the dumbbells nicely on the floor. But, I suppose she was the dumbbell.
haha, I will admit to doing the second type before in a hot yoga class! it wasn’t my fault though –> that was the only spot available! I was so embarrassed the whole time because I had NO idea what was going on, let alone I am the most inflexible person ever. Oh well, next time I will know to show up early!
I disagree about newbies staying in the back. Often times, newbies should be in front so instructors can make sure they have proper form and don’t get injured.