Working in at the gym: share or wait?

Working in at the gym means alternating sets on the same equipment. Ask between sets, explain the changes you need, and agree on whose turn comes next. Share when both people can use the station without rushing their work or repeatedly rebuilding the setup.

Under Armour's gym etiquette guide describes working in as taking turns. Its advice also recognizes that large differences in the required setup can make sharing impractical. Use the setup itself to decide whether a proposed arrangement will work.

Ask to share gym equipment between sets

Ask to work in after the other person has finished the set and put the equipment down. Then use a short question: “Are you still using this?” If they are, follow with, “How many sets do you have left?”

The answer helps you choose between sharing and waiting. If they have one set left, waiting may be simpler. If they have several, offer a specific arrangement: “Could I work in? I use the same handle, but I would change the seat.”

Avoid turning the conversation into a discussion of who has the more important workout. Both people need enough information to make a practical decision. Asking clearly also works better than hovering near a station and hoping someone understands your plan.

Compare equipment adjustments before sharing

Sharing gym equipment is simpler when its adjustments are easy to reverse. Several plate changes, a different rack height, or a different bench position can take more time. Use this decision table as a planning aid:

These are examples, not Nightmare Muscle reservation rules. The people sharing still need to agree, and any posted facility rule applies.

A complete example of sharing a gym machine

In this example of working in, you need seat position four. The person already using the machine uses position two and has two sets left. This hypothetical exchange shows the handover:

“Could I work in? I use seat four. I can return it to two after each turn.”

“Sure. I will finish this set, then you go.”

After your turn, return the agreed setting and say, “Back to two. Your turn.” When the other person finishes, establish whether they want the equipment returned to storage or left ready for your remaining work.

Use the marked settings on your own equipment; the numbers here only identify the two positions in the example.

Protect each person's training time

Working in should leave room for the recovery each person needs. Taking turns does not require matching another lifter's pace. If the rotation creates pressure to start before you are ready, pause and change the arrangement.

Keep your phone, towel, and bag out of the other person's working area. Make each handover clear. “That was my last set” gives the next person useful information that a bottle left on the floor cannot provide.

Cleveland Clinic's April 15, 2026 etiquette guide recommends sharing equipment fairly and returning weights. It also discourages occupying several machines at once. These principles are useful when deciding how much space one shared session needs.

Wait when sharing equipment needs too many changes

If sharing requires too many changes, ask when the station will be free. Continue with an exercise whose order can change under your plan, or wait clear of the lifting area. A coach can help you list suitable alternatives before a busy visit.

If a disagreement continues, describe the facts to staff: the station, who is using it, and what you requested. Let them apply the gym's rules.

Learn the floor before your first workout

Bring your equipment needs on a free tour of Nightmare Muscle. Staff will confirm a time. You can use the walkthrough to locate the stations in your existing training program and understand how the shared space operates.