The gym environment often operates with its own specific set of unspoken rules and jargon. As a shared space with limited resources, etiquette is necessary to allow everyone to complete their workouts efficiently. Understanding the phrase “working in” is crucial for navigating crowded times. This term represents a cooperative agreement that helps manage the flow of traffic around popular equipment, especially during peak hours.
Understanding the Term “Working In”
“Working in” describes sharing a single piece of equipment or station with another person by alternating sets. This logistical arrangement allows two individuals to use the same machine without one person waiting for the other to finish their entire workout. The concept relies on the necessity of rest periods between resistance training sets, which typically range from 30 seconds to three minutes.
The implied agreement means that while one person performs their set, the other is resting, and vice versa. This mutual use maximizes the equipment’s utility during time that would otherwise be idle. This increases overall gym efficiency and prevents equipment from being monopolized for extended periods in a busy facility.
Essential Etiquette for Sharing Equipment
Initiating the sharing process requires respectful communication. Start with a polite request made during the person’s rest interval, never while they are actively lifting. Once permission is granted, the person working in must be ready to perform their set immediately after the other person finishes. Transitions should be quick and seamless to avoid unnecessarily extending the original user’s rest period.
Adjusting the weight must be done with precision and speed, especially if the weights differ significantly. The original user generally retains the right to set the pace and flow of the workout. When the working-in person is done, they must quickly return the weight to the original user’s setting. Both individuals are responsible for wiping down the equipment’s contact surfaces after their respective use.
When to Ask and When to Avoid Working In
The decision to ask to work in depends on the type of equipment and the complexity of the ongoing exercise. Standard equipment that allows for easy weight adjustments is suitable for sharing, such as cable machines, selectorized weight machines, and the flat bench press. The ability to quickly change weights makes alternating sets practical and simple. In a busy environment, the user is often expected to accept a work-in request unless there is a clear logistical issue.
However, certain situations make working in impractical or unsafe and should be avoided.
Situations to Avoid
Complex lifts requiring elaborate setup, such as Olympic weightlifting, should not be interrupted due to safety requirements. Equipment used for super-sets, which involve rapidly moving between two or more exercises with minimal rest, is generally off-limits. Equipment that cannot be shared sequentially, like cardio machines such as treadmills or ellipticals, is never appropriate for a work-in request.