Has your Pilates class been feeling a little cramped lately? Blame it on the season. Gym attendance always picks up around this time of year. Personally, I’ve noticed an influx in my group fitness classes.

While I’m all for more people working out, I do get a tiny bit annoyed when people blatantly ignore some of the unspoken rules of group fitness. In response, I thought it would be a good time to kindly remind everyone of the common courtesies one should try and follow when attending such classes to ensure that EVERYONE can get a good workout.

1. Be on time, preferably even a couple minutes early if you can.  If you do arrive late, don’t try and get a spot in the front. Be discrete about it and slip into a spot in the back, like you did for that 8:00 a.m. Economics class you had in college. ; )

2. Always be aware of the people next to you and your distance from them. You don’t want to knock anybody out during kickboxing and you certainly don’t want to block Big Birtha’s view of herself either.

3. Strive to be odor-free. Obviously no one likes the smell of B.O., but the same holds for smelly perfumes and lotions. Believe it or not, not everyone loves the smell of sun-ripened raspberry.

4. Bring a towel. If you’re sweating a lot, you’ll want something to wipe yourself down with. If you’re laying on a mat, put the towel down, helps to keep things cleaner.

5.Turn your cell phone on silent. No one likes to be interrupted by a phone call. For most people, working out is much needed time to themselves. Don’t deprive them of this.

Most of all remember group fitness is fun and you don’t want to be that person, nobody does! I hope these help and remember to keep the energy level high and don’t be afraid to yell out a “Woo Hoo!” during class if you’re having fun. Everyone appreciates that!

Yours Truly,

Lady Lex