The Do’s and Don’ts of NexT Fit Clubs

By Coach Jamie

It’s that time of year again! We welcome all of our new members to the community and congratulate our long standing members on their commitment and consistency! We’re all in this fitness journey together and one way we can keep that vibe going through 2026 is to practice respect to each other, the staff, and the equipment. So let’s take some time to learn how we can be sure to do that and keep this community and environment friendly, clean, and comfortable. This is a helpful reminder to those that have been around for a long time and a lesson to those who may not be too familiar with a gym environment yet!

DO clean up after yourself

Nothing better than working out in a clean and organized gym! If you pull something out to use, be sure to put it back so others know you’re done and it’s out of the way. We have hooks for cable handles and would LOVE if you put those back instead of making a mess on the floor. If you’ve loaded weights onto a machine, put them back on their appropriate storage racks (preferably where you got them from!) Please ASK if you need some assistance or you’re unsure where something belongs.

DON’T leave your mess for someone else

Our training staff would much rather focus on training their clients than picking up the weights you left on the platform. They wouldn’t come to your house, take everything out of your cabinets, and then expect you to put it all back. Our front desk staff are helpful at keeping the gym organized but they have a lot of other responsibilities like managing the front desk, inventory, maintaining the wipes and bathroom amenities, and ensuring they are available for any and all customer service issues! If you’re strong enough to use the weights, you’re strong enough to put them back.

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DO rest between sets

Yes, we know you need to rest between sets. In fact, WE RECOMMEND IT!  It’s important to recover so that you can attack your next set of reps with intensity and strength. But please make sure you’re keeping track and being intentional about your time. That 10 minute text convo with your bestie is ruining your gains!

DON’T get lost in your phone

The TikTok and Instagram rabbit hole is real. We get it! But the gym is no place for doom-scrolling. It’s a nice way to kill time while you’re waiting for your legs to recover on the leg press but it’s easy to lose track of time. Set your stop watch or limit your texting so you’re not holding someone else up who might be waiting for you. Save the mindless scrolling for later when you have some downtime at home.

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DO wipe your equipment down

We’ve conveniently placed wipe containers all over the gym to make it easy for you to grab a wet wipe and clean your sweat and body oils off the machines, weights, and benches. Be nice and courteous to your fellow gym goers. We also strongly recommend washing your hands as soon as you’re done and showering as early as possible to stay healthy!

DON’T risk an infection

The germs and bacteria in a warm, sweaty environment are plentiful and we’d love it if you do your best to limit that as much as possible. Skin infections such as ringworm or staph are avoidable if you’re clean and careful. Wipe it down and be considerate to the next member who jumps on your machine. 

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DO use our lockers and coat hooks

We’ve got coat hooks to hang your outerwear in the locker rooms as well as lockers to fit your belongings. The gym just doesn’t have the space for every single person to carry a huge bag with them at all times. If one person does it, everyone will want to do it and we don’t want to look like Newark Airport during peak travel.

DON’T bring your carry-on luggage on the gym floor

We get it, you need your straps, your wrist wraps, your knee sleeves, your BCAAs, etc. Bring just what you need to get you through your exercises and try not to take up space with a huge duffel bag. Small items are fine but we want to maximize floor space and reduce tripping hazards!

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DO make friends and socialize

We love how social our gym is! The friendships and relationships we see built every day warm our hearts (especially during this cold, cold winter!) and make us happy! Making a gym friend helps with accountability, confidence, and mental health. We want you all to make connections, be friendly, and always have plenty of options for spotters 🙂 And if you’ve come to the gym with a group, consider splitting up into smaller groups to work on different movements. Having 6 people rotating on one machine takes up a lot of space and calls for way too much rest between your sets!

DON’T disrupt others

Not everyone has the time to socialize. Sometimes we need to put our headphones in, get to work, and get to our next appointment or obligation! Having a friendly interaction is fine but try to keep it brief and pay attention to social cues. Don’t keep interrupting someone if they’re no longer resting and if they keep trying to put their headphones back on it means they’re signaling that they have to get back to their exercise! 

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DO supersets for efficiency

Efficiency with your workout can help you maximize your time on the gym floor. We’re always down for a superset but take note of the gym environment and be strategic with your exercise selection. Is the gym packed because it’s 5pm on a Monday? Try pairing a free weighted movement with your set on a machine to keep your efficiency high while taking up minimal real estate. 

DON’T be an equipment hog

We understand you might have a routine in mind when you enter the gym but we also expect everyone to be respectful about what they include in that routine. We don’t recommend doing a multi-exercise circuit that requires 4 machines during our busiest hours. Sharing is caring, especially when it comes to the gym. If someone asks you how many sets you have left or if they can work in, try to be accommodating or at least be respectful of how much time you’re taking so they can use it as soon as you’re done.

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Lastly, DO be kind. We always strive to cultivate an inclusive and friendly training environment and we want this experience to be great for everyone. Politely communicate your issues to fellow members or staff. Kindly add your suggestions to our member suggestion box. Be patient with new gym members as they are still learning the ropes. Remember that we all started somewhere and everyone is taking the right steps to become and stay healthy and strong! There’s enough negativity out there. Let’s keep it positive 🙂