If you’re like most guys, your daily gym trip is defined by routine. You’ve planned what time you’re going to work out, what body part you’re working on and exactly how much time you’ll need. But regardless of how much time you spend planning, there’s no way to avoid a crowded gym. Especially if you work out after work. There’s nothing more crushing than planning a sick circuit and arriving to a weight room where every bench is taken. When you find yourself in this situation, keep the following tips in mind.
Claim Your Spot
Once a bench opens up, don’t hesitate to claim it. Make sure you take over the space with some kind of visual marker. Toss your towel down or leave your training notebook there so everyone else knows that you’re using it. Odds are, you aren’t the only one staking out equipment, and there’s someone waiting in the wings to steal that bench the second it looks available.
Make Friends
In a perfect world, the gym will start to clear out the longer you stay and you’ll be able to circle back to the leg press. In reality, the gym might stay active the entire time you’re working out. If that equipment hog has been on the machine you’re eyeing for 45 minutes, it’s time to tap his shoulder and work in with him. When you work in, you and the equipment hog will alternate sets until one of you finishes and moves on. It’s not ideal, but hey, you’ve got to work out.Watch the Mirror
More people in the weight room means less space for movement. Without noticing it, you can easily end up blocking the mirror for a fellow lifter. Before you get settled in a new spot, take a quick glance around to make sure you’re not obscuring someone’s view. Contrary to popular belief, that mirror isn’t just a way for guys for stare at their own muscles. It’s one of the only ways to check and correct their form. Getting in someone’s way could possibly lead to injury if he can’t see what he’s doing.