Upper pecs, middle pecs, lower pecs – everyone loves a big chest but gyms and members often go overboard trying to develop these iconic muscles.
I worked out in a gym last week that had on display the biggest indoor sign I’d ever seen. It was more like a billboard, in 2000 point font, hanging above the dumbbell rack: DO NOT DROP WEIGHTS. The dropping of weights, dumbbells in particular, seems to be one of the top etiquette issues at…
I’ve often wondered whether asking a stranger for a spot is a violation of gym etiquette. I know that when I’m asked for a spot, I’m irritated by the disruption in the pace of my workout and the break in concentration. I also resent channeling my precious energy into someone else’s workout, and, considering the…
There are a few really astounding gym incidents that I’ve been able only to hear about, rather than witness firsthand. For example, there are variations on the collarless barbell: A guy doing bench presses with three plates on each side pushes up unevenly; the bar tips to one side, all three plates spill off the…
The typical bench press spot is bad enough: some egomaniac loads his barbell with far too much weight for him to handle, forcing the poor spotter to deadlift the barbell off the lifter’s chest. What I saw yesterday, however, has to qualify as spotter’s revenge. Turned sideways, with his hip nearly touching the lifter’s head,…