Have you ever felt an unexplained energy that you desperately needed to get out of your system? Have you ever wanted to pummel the life out of somebody with essentially no repercussions? Do you enjoy music deemed either "fast" or "loud"? Mosh pits may just be for you.

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What are mosh pits? Mosh pits are areas of crowds where moshing takes place. Moshing is a style of dance where individuals push and slam into each other. Moshing usually happens near the middle of crowds and closer to the stage. These pits are energetic and full of contact.

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What should you expect in a mosh pit? You should expect to have a lot of fun. Despite the crowds people pushing each other around aggressively, people are generally very nice. Anyone who falls down will be helped back up, lost items will be returned to their owners, and injuries will be avoided at all costs.

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THE UNSPOKEN RULES OF MOSHING

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How does one prepare for a mosh pit? Make sure comfortable clothing is worn, it will be hot in the pit. Old clothes are strongly recommended, as fabrics can easily be torn or stretched. Make sure all loose articles are accounted for and in a place where they will not be lost. Examples of articles include glasses, jewelry, and wallets. I would recommend leaving them with a friend.

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How does one know when to mosh? Be on the lookout for groups of people pushing each other during a concert, that is your best guess. Don't start moshing until it feels appropriate; the pits generally form themselves. When in a mosh pit, pay attention to the music. The intensity of the group will increase with the pace of the music.

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What is the general etiquette of moshing? If anyone is to fall, make sure they are helped up. If somebody has lost an item, make sure an attempt is made to find the owner. Don't mosh with people who are not in the pit, if they wanted to mosh, they would be in the pit.

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Remember to have fun.

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OTHER FORMS OF MOSH PITS​

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Moshing does not only include pits where people push each other around uncontrollably. There are many other forms of the activity.

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Circle pits are a form of moshing where the group generally runs in the shape of a circle. This type of moshing typically occurs when the pace of the music picks up tremendously. Circle pits are a fun and energetic workout, as running laps are essentially done during a song.

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Pogo dancing is the precursor to moshing. The participants in this activity jump up and down in accordance with the rhythm of the song. While doing the pogo dance, individuals can either move around or remain in one place jumping.

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Walls of death can be started by those in crowd or the performers. The crowd will part like the red sea before an intense section or full song. When the time is right, the crowd will charge at each other, filling the once previous space formed by the split.

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