Summer is a great time at the pool!! There are some great programs being offered this year. We have a summer swim team which runs from June 25th through the championships in early August. The practices are Monday through Thursday from

Shaping Up - Exercise Class Etiquette

When the fitness-minded get single-minded about their workouts, things can get pretty grim in the gym. People can lose all consideration for - or even awareness of - those around them. Maybe it's all those mirrors!

The very fact that gym activities are so "me"-based makes courtesy an absolute necessity to minimize distractions and to promote safety. It's a place where bad manners can cause physical injury to you or others. For example, avoid joining an exercise group already in session: your arrival will be distracting to those in the group, and you may have missed important safety information given at the beginning of the workout. 

Here are some other considerations:

Dress for success. The key words are clean and functional. Avoid anything that drapes or dangles. Jewelry can pose a hazard to you, especially while working out. In addition, you shouldn't walk around in flimsy footwear or stocking feet. And please watch where you are going. Walking into a piece of equipment can result in a broken toe or foot.

Bag your gym bag. (or at least stow it far out of the way of foot traffic.) Somebody could trip over it, get tangled in the straps and fall. Lock your gear in the dressing room.

Avoid Spills. Keep your water in an enclosed, unbreakable container.

Keep it quiet. Keep talking to a minimum in classes. Rest those cell phones. They should be turned off or on silent mode.

Cleanliness is next to gymliness. Marinated gym clothes (the kind you leave in the trunk of your car or your locker and then wear them again), fragrances and grime are guaranteed to help you lose friends and transform your group activity into a solitary performance.

Keep your cool. So you always work out in the corner but someone beat you to it this time. Group classes operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Let off your steam in the workout, not by lobbing nasty salvos at the "offender."

Forget flying solo. By definition, classes are group activities. So avoid doing your own routine. Do your best to keep up with the class.

Don't crowd. Consider others' exercise space and don't crowd someone who has arrived in class before you.

Towel off (not just yourself.) Your equipment deserves to be wiped down, too.