Gym etiquette:

natruallycurious

Carl_Carlson wrote: »

How about a group of power lifters sitting around waiting while a group of women tie up a power rack doing squats with two 10 Lb weights on the bar? I maintain that this equipment was never intended to be used to do squats with 20 Lbs.

Both men and women at my gym will often squat with just the bar. Some people are new and working on form. Some have injuries and are taking it slow to help heal. Some just don't have as much muscle as others. Anyone who is using the equipment properly has a right to do so. They pay just as much as you to use the equipment, and if you have some bogus belief that it's not a valid use unless the weight reaches some imaginary threshold you've set, then buy your own damn power rack and stay home.

jseams1234

I think maybe what Carl is saying is that for such light weights you can squat anywhere without worry about having to dump and hurt yourself. A power rack is to provide a mechanical spotter when a real spotter isn't available. I've seen people use a power rack without even setting the bar catches. Might as well use the regular squat/bench rack. Now, if there is no alternative area to squat or bench but the power rack - then it's fair game for everybody.

SonyaCele

Carl_Carlson wrote: »

How about a group of power lifters sitting around waiting while a group of women tie up a power rack doing squats with two 10 Lb weights on the bar? I maintain that this equipment was never intended to be used to do squats with 20 Lbs.

what????? i don't even know how to respond to this except that no powerlifter i have ever met, and i know a lot, would ever judge someone for the amt of weight they have on the bar.

SonyaCele

jseams1234 wrote: »

I think maybe what Carl is saying is that for such light weights you can squat anywhere without worry about having to dump and hurt yourself. A power rack is to provide a mechanical spotter when a real spotter isn't available. I've seen people use a power rack without even setting the bar catches. Might as well use the regular squat/bench rack. Now, if there is no alternative area to squat or bench but the power rack - then it's fair game for everybody.

no, what he's saying is hes a dick. 65 pounds may be light weight for some , but it may be someone's 1rm.

wizzybeth

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LiveLoveFitFab

It doesn't matter if the weights on the squat rack seem light to you. If it's more than just the bar (assuming it's 30-35lbs) I can't lift it over my head and on to my shoulders safely, even though you might be able to easily.

Women have much less upper body strength for getting that bar on their shoulders without using a rack.

Eyes on your own work out and you won't have to worry about it. But that's just my opinion.

jondspen

malibu927 wrote: »

This was a problem at my gym a couple years ago (more with the dumbbells, I believe) so the staff began putting up signs: "If you're too weak to rerack your weights when you're done, please let one of the girls at the front know and they'll take care of it."

LMAO...that's a good one. Bet it handled the problem too, didn't it?