If You Can't Smile, You Can't Come In

I said this on instagram the other day and it needs to be said again (and expanded on a bit).

Smile at others at the gym.

For some people just getting to the gym is a battle.

Some people see a squat rack and get terrified. Without even beginning to work out, the physical squat rack itself intimidates them.

Some people get embarrassed because they don’t know how to set up a machine properly.

I've rescued a few people in my time sitting under their weights on the leg press or trying to get their settings right on the leg extension.

Some people are self conscious because they don’t know what correct form is.

Is their push up good? Is their squat good? etc etc

Some people have a PT that doesn’t even bloody look at them while they’re training or is on their phone (trust me, I’ve seen it). That just plain p*sses me off.

Some people don’t want to see their reflection at the gym because they lack confidence and self esteem.

Some people almost sprint out of the changing rooms because they’re so happy to get out of the gym and back home where they feel safe and not judged.

People are already scared of so many things at the gym, we don’t need to create any more reason for them to want to get out as soon as possible.

Smile.

And if you're training so hard, you can't manage a smile...

Be polite.

It’s free, it feels good and it has the power to change the way everyone looks at training and the internal culture in gyms.

It should be an environment for everyone to get better, not just those who can lift the heaviest and grunt the loudest.