Stupid Music In Gyms - Can't Stand Pop/dance!

[Estella 11]

There are many things I dislike about exercise, but what I hate most is the music in gyms. Aerobics classes, kickboxing, zoomba, everything involves music for the dull-minded masses. It's usually extremely stupid pop or dance tunes, and I simply cannot stand this torture. I listen to alternative and rock music on iPod, and the mere thought of performing various dance moves to the sound of Britney, Shakira, Rhianna or whatever it is they force-feed to yours ears - sounds like a nightmare.

I wish we had gyms like http://punkrockaerobics.com/ in my country. But unfortunately we don't.

Any suggestions? Here are the sports I've already tried and grew bored of:

1. Speed-walking with my iPod. If I do it 4 times a week like the doctors prescribe, it turns very, very tedious.

2. Swimming. Got a music player that works underwater. Boring as hell.

Any thoughts, suggestions?

[Lissa 2,631]

Get some videos to do at home. Turn down the volume on the tv and listen to your own music? TRY to develop a tolerance for the "stupid" music? It does at least have a beat to it...that's a plus. I get what you're saying because I'm definitely not into much of the newer stuff, but I can usually tolerate it because I know it's helping to get my heart rate up and to help me keep time with the class.

I just keep remembering gym class where we all had to count. I felt like a moron counting 1...2...3...4, etc. for every jumping jack and push up we did.

Good luck! I hope you find a solution that works for you!

[Estella 11]

"TRY to develop a tolerance for the "stupid" music?" - perhaps a lobotomy would help? Seriously, this isn't going to happen. I rather weigh 500 lbs than having to listen to pop music. It's not just that this music is bad, it represents the exact opposite of what I stand for.

"Get some videos to do at home" - are there any exercise videos that use alternative or rock music? The gym I linked is the only one I know of. Do you know of any video like that?

[SouthernSleever 228]

They played easy listening where I used to work out and I hated it. I love "stupid" music! Nothing can get my ass moving like some Britney Spears!

[Lissa 2,631]

Well, I'm not the source for anything based on alternative music! LOL I've edited this because I came across as snarky, which was not my intention.

I hope you find some videos that use alternative music. I wouldn't know alternative music if it jumped on my head. I'm more into old rock and roll, which tells you that I'm way older than you!

Good luck.

[MegInNOLA 531]

I've always hated the music they play in gyms and exercise classes, too... but I don't think you're going to find a lot of "alternative" music on exercise videos or in typical exercise classes. Sounds like there might be a niche market there--hmm.... You might approach one or more of the instructors at your neighborhood gym to see if they might include an exercise class or a workout block (like a 2-hour block of time) which would use different music. Some of these places have multiple stations available to them, while some are contracted through a particular service that provides only the "pop" style or whatever they've currently got. Doesn't hurt to inquire!

Meantime, why not figure out how to use your own music and develop a routine that isn't routine? You can alternate activities or work out a schedule so that you don't get bored with doing the same thing over and over--maybe hike one day, bicycle the next, swim the next, Nautilus circuit the next, etc. If you put together a series of playlists on your iPod or whatever you have, you can make them all for around an hour or a half hour (whichever your workouts tend to be), and you'll always be set with acceptable music for whatever activity you're planning. I understand that would put you into a solitary sort of exercise pattern; that's why I suggest speaking with the instructors and/or management at your local gyms to see if they might be open to switching music for blocks of time to cater to different tastes.

Good luck!

[marymoon 18]

Maybe you can get some audio books for your iPod. Dale Carnige's 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' is an excellent read.