Hogging weights, loud grunting and sweaty benches: 11 gym dos and don’ts from fitness experts

‘Respect the equipment, respect other people’s time and space, and respect the shared environment,’ says Mathew Forzaglia, a fitness professional. Illustration: Guardian Design / Getty Images

I like to think of myself as a fairly laid-back person. Other people’s behavior is not my business. There is one notable exception: my gym nemesis.

He brings his computer to the gym and takes work conference calls at full volume. He has four to six pairs of dumbbells around him at all times – then doesn’t put them away. Intellectually I understand he is a fragile, flawed human like the rest of us, but in my gut I sometimes wonder if he arrived here from another galaxy.