How to Record Yourself at the Gym Without Being A Douchebag – Our Top Tips

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Fitness content is pretty much unavoidable, If you’ve ever watched fitness video content, there is a draw to watching someone work out. You get to see their form, their progress, and even what not to do.

I regularly record myself to check what my form is like, and its the reason why many gyms have mirrors on the wall. But the problem with mirrors is that although I can see myself while working out, it was difficult to critique myself overall, especially after I left the gym or if I am seeking advice about my form.

Learning how to record yourself at the gym takes a little understanding and patience. I have found my recordings have become instrumental in helping me improve my form during workouts. But at the same time, there are a few things I try to stay aware of to avoid coming across like a complete douchebag in the gym.

Table of Contents

• Why Do People Record Themselves in the Gym?
• Things Never to Do When Recording Yourself at the Gym-Etiquette
• How to Record Yourself While Working Out – Our Recommended Gear
• Record Yourself At the Gym – Top 3 Tips
• Recording Yourself in the Gym Helps You Improve

Why Do People Record Themselves in the Gym?

Take a look at Instagram, or any social media platform for that matter, and you are going to see many people recording themselves while working out.

Is it a pride thing? Are they just wanting more followers? More likes?

The truth is, there are many social media influencers that want just that, more likes and followers, but this isn’t the case for everyone.

Some people want to record their workouts to help encourage others or show them the proper form. Even if you want to become a budding social media influencer, there is no shame!

The main reason to film your workouts in the gym is to improve. When you go home after a workout, you often forget what happened. If you are like me, you even zone out in the ‘Zen of the moment’. 

When I started filming myself, I would go home and watch my progression. I could finally see my squat form wasn’t what I thought it was in my head when I was doing them, and my dead lifts needed some serious work. 

For me, recording yourself in the gym is what I like to call a training tool. I have learned so much from seeing my failures and my improvements, and it has made my workouts more intuitive and beneficial. 

Things Never to Do When Recording Yourself at the Gym-Etiquette

I have had run-ins with people in the gym who were being rude while recording themselves.

I have even seen people come into the gym with a small film crew as if they were making a production. 

I can’t say I have never forgotten my manners in the gym, because I am sure I have, but I try my best to be respectful of others and not hog too much space and make a big show of it all. 

• Avoid Assumptions-Ask Management

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when starting to record yourself in the gym is failing to ask for permission. Some gyms are really strict on their recording policies. 

You may find some gyms have signs posted that say “No Recording.” Other gyms do not mind if you record yourself, but you should always get permission from management first. 

• Never Film Others

This is a HUGE No-No! Never film someone else without their express permission. If you are recording yourself in the gym, make sure no one else will be in the video. If someone else is in the video, ask them permission first. If you by chance get someone in the video without realizing it, blur their face before you post to social media. 

Never be that person that sneakily records people to make fun of them. Everybody in the gym expects a certain level of privacy. Just imagine yourself as the star of a viral video being humiliated by someone who was secretly filming you. 

• Never Film in Private Areas

There are certain areas of the gym that are off limits for recording. Never record in the changing or shower areas. Breaching another person’s privacy while recording yourself could lead to legal woes and even criminal charges. Don’t be a perv!

• Never Interrupt Someone’s Workout

When you are in the gym, it is just you and the weights. Never bother others when they are working out. Asking someone to film you or take your picture while they are working out can cause them to miss out on their workout flow. 

Keep the filming to yourself and avoid bothering others. Remember the gym is not a TV studio. There are ways to record yourself in the gym without bothering others and being an ass. 

• Watch Out for Others When Filming Yourself at the Gym

Going to the gym is tough for some people. In the gym, you have a mixture of people, including those who are physically fit and those that have weight issues. 

Everyone should be respected when they are trying to better themselves, no matter their current shape or skill level. Imagine being that overweight self-conscious person who has struggled to gather the confidence to actually go to the gym. 

Suddenly, they have a camera pointed at their face. For some people, this could make them feel embarrassed and could even cause them to never come back to the gym. You don’t want to be responsible for causing someone to give up. 

Most people will be cool with you letting them know that you’re recording yourself, most will just workout so they’re not in shot. If someone gets offended by being in the video just be cool about it, delete it and move to a more private area. 

How to Record Yourself While Working Out – Our Recommended Gear

If you’ve never recorded yourself in the gym, you may wonder how to go about the process. Do you need special equipment, or can you simply use a cell phone?

• A good tripod – First of all, you can record yourself with a cell phone, but you might need a tripod to get the right quality. In the beginning, I propped my phone on a bottle of water or a towel. Once I decided to record myself in the gym regularly, I invested in a good tripod like this one. 

• A magnetic phone holder – I also like this magnetic phone holder because it allows you to easily mount your phone on some types of gym equipment.  

• If you decide your cell phone is not doing the trick, I recommend this camera setup. It’s a small DSLR camera that’s very good for vlogging as well as filming workouts.

In the beginning, you are going to find your videos are not that good. Not only will you likely be embarrassed about your form, but you may also find your filming style is not the best. 

Record Yourself At the Gym – Top 3 Tips

Thankfully, there are some things you can do to make your recordings look more professional. This is especially essential if you plan on posting your workouts on social media. 

1. Always Use a Tripod

First of all, it is dangerous to try to film yourself while holding your phone. You need to focus fully on your form and reps. You can get seriously hurt when trying to hold a phone and lift. In fact, it’s pretty much impossible. Propping your phone could cause damage. Get a good tripod. They aren’t expensive. 

2. Try a ¾ Angle

To truly evaluate your form correctly, you need to film at a ¾ angle. Filming from the front or side will show you parts of your form, but will not reveal the entire story. 

For instance, a side view of your squat workout will show your back and leg form, but it could miss the fact that your knees are caving in when you go down. A ¾ angle is a mixture of a front and side view, giving you the perfect angle. 

3. Check the Lighting & Position First

There is nothing worse than thinking you are recording correctly, only to find out the lighting is terrible or you are not even fully in the shot!

Check to ensure the lighting is bright enough and there are no adjustments that need to be made before you start to record yourself in the gym. Doing this will save you a lot of headaches!

Recording Yourself in the Gym Helps You Improve

I cannot recommend it enough. Record yourself in the gym to see how your form really is. It is likely going to surprise you. With recordings of your workouts, you can get your form to perfection and maximize your effort and results.