Fitness Class Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

Plenty of parents tell me the thing stopping them from trying a class is not the exercise. It is the worry of doing something wrong in front of other people. Turning up late with a toddler’s breakfast on your top. Not knowing where to put your bag. Taking the kettlebell someone else was using. If that sounds like you, this guide to fitness class etiquette is for you. None of it is complicated, and once you know the unwritten rules, you can stop worrying and just train.

I have been coaching for over 10 years and I can tell you the honest truth: most of the “rules” exist so that everyone stays safe and gets their full session. Nobody is judging your trainers.

Fitness class etiquette before you arrive

Book, and cancel if you cannot make it

Small classes have a set number of places. If you booked and something comes up (and with kids, something always comes up), cancel or message the coach as early as you can. It frees your place for someone on the waiting list and helps the coach plan equipment.

Tell the coach about anything relevant

Injuries, back or joint pain, pregnancy, a recent birth, blood pressure or any health condition: let the coach know before the class, not halfway through. Anything like this should also be checked with your GP or physio before you start. A good coach will then give you options for each exercise without making a big deal of it in front of the group.

Bring the basics

• A water bottle, filled before you leave
• A small towel
• Trainers with a decent grip, clean if the class is indoors
• Layers you can take off as you warm up

When you get there

Arrive a few minutes early

Five minutes early gives you time to put your bag down, meet the coach and settle your nerves. If you are running late because of the school run, it happens. Slip in quietly, let the coach know, and do a few warm-up moves on your own before joining in. Do not skip the warm-up completely to catch up.

Phone on silent and out of the way

If you need to stay reachable for childcare, that is completely fine. Keep it on vibrate near your water bottle and tell the coach you might need to step out.

Pick a spot that works for you

First timers often head for the back row. That is fine, but standing where the coach can see you means you get more form help. In a small group there is not really a back row anyway.

During the class

Listen to the briefing

The minute before each block is when the coach explains the moves, the timings and the easier options. Most “what am I meant to be doing?” moments come from missing this bit.

Choose your level and own it

Taking the easier option is not cheating. It is smart training. Going too heavy or too fast to keep up with the person next to you is the quickest way to get sore or hurt. Your only job is to work at a level that is hard for you today.

Share the kit

• Use the equipment for your station, then leave it ready for the next person.
• Do not drop kettlebells or dumbbells. Place them down.
• Wipe down mats and handles if there is sweat on them.
• Give people room when they are swinging or lunging.

Encourage, do not coach

A “well done” at the end of a hard round is lovely. Correcting someone else’s form is the coach’s job, so leave that to them, even if you mean well.

Speak up if something hurts

There is a big difference between “this is hard” and “this hurts”. If you feel sharp pain, dizziness or anything that feels wrong, stop and tell the coach straight away.

After the class

• Help put the kit away. It takes two minutes when everyone helps.
• Stay for the cool-down if you can. It is part of the session.
• Ask questions. Coaches like it when you ask why an exercise is in the programme.
• Give feedback. If the music was too loud or a move felt awkward, say so.

If this is your very first class, I have put together a separate guide to your first bootcamp class as a beginner, which covers what to eat beforehand and how you might feel the next day. And if you want to know what you will actually be doing in the session, read my sample bootcamp workout.

Where a small-group bootcamp fits

Big classes can feel anonymous and a bit chaotic, which is when etiquette worries grow. In a small group it is easier. At SYP Bootcamp in Archway there are never more than 10 people, so I know everyone by name, I can show you the right option for each move, and nobody is fighting over equipment. It is indoors, 45 minutes, and £15 a class. You can see this week’s class times on the booking page.

FAQs

What should I wear to a fitness class?

Comfortable clothes you can move and sweat in, and trainers with good grip. You do not need anything new or expensive. Layers are useful because you warm up quickly.

Is it rude to leave a fitness class early?

Not if you have a good reason, which as a parent you often will. Just tell the coach at the start, set up near the door, and leave quietly. Try to do a short cool-down on your own afterwards.

What if I cannot keep up in a class?

Take the easier option, slow down or rest for a few seconds. A good coach expects this and will give you alternatives. Everyone in the room was a beginner at some point.

If you have been putting off a class because you were not sure how it all works, now you know. Come and try a friendly, small-group session in Archway. Book your £15 class and I will look after you from the first minute. If you would feel more comfortable starting with someone working just with you, find out how 1-1 personal training with SYP Fitness works.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.