by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: May 29, 2007

Going to the gym and exercising is great for your health. Exercise is a preventative natural medication for almost any ailment that comes to mind. You would be hard pressed to find any credible information to the contrary.

On the other hand the gym is filled with bodily fluids and germs. How can you get the exercise you need and still avoid as many germs as possible?

1 Take a good look at a gym before you join. Ask them questions about cleanliness and sanitation. Look to see if they have enough staff that machines are getting wiped down. Ask about how their laundry service works for the towels and cleaning rags. Clean towels and hampers should be everywhere. There should be staff emptying the hampers long before they are full and using disinfectant in the hamper. Don't worry about sounding a little fanatical. Your health is well worth it.

2 Bring the right equipment for cleanliness with you. I am a fan of the basic Lysol spray. It doesn't hurt the machines, mats and equipment. It comes in a variety of scents. It kills the germs.

Bring your water shoes or flip-flops because bare feet should never touch the floor. If you plan on using the public showers you need protection. Athletes foot seems to run ramped through some gyms. Sit down; remove your gym shoes. Wipe down your feet with an antibacterial wipe. Put on your choice of protective footwear, grab your shower gel and head for the showers.

3 A clean bag is essential. Like a purse, the bottom of the bag is dirty and gets dirty. It sets on the floor and other dingy places. A clean, wiped, washed and disinfected bag is part of your equipment. I find it easier to have two bags so I can rotate.

What approach should you take when you are going to use a machine or piece of equipment? You wipe down the equipment with a towel or cleaning rag. Toss the towel in the nearby hamper. Spray the machine with Lysol and stretch for about two minutes. Use the machine. Wipe down the equipment with the towel. Toss the towel in the hamper. Spray the machine. You have now used the equipment in a clean and courteous manner. Hopefully others will follow your lead and the germ bank will be cut down drastically.

It all boils down to common sense and common courtesy. Your mother would be proud if you practice both.

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.