It’s all about the music at the Planet Fitness Northampton on Kerry Forest Parkway in Tallahassee.
Optional carry-on equipment for fitness members are elbow pads, knee pads, wrist bands, head bands, personalized T-shirts, and water bottles – but earbuds are apparently mandatory.
Virtually all gym participants are plugged in to a variety of music that helps get them through their workouts. And their informal comments on the topic basically coincide with the findings of a 2026 study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.
The study summary, which was published in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise journal, noted that listening to one’s favorite music during a workout helped distract from discomfort and make sustained effort more manageable.Andrew Danso, lead researcher, was quoted as follows:
“Our research shows that letting people choose their own motivating music may help them accumulate more quality training time, which could translate to better fitness gains, improved adherence to exercise (programs), and possibly more people staying active.”
Terri Sue Lawson, working on the chest-press machine, isn’t picky about the type of music as long as it has a good beat.
Watching Terri Sue Lawson, earbuds in place, happily doing extra repetitions on the chest-press machine at the fitness center, seemed to reinforce the veracity of the Finland researchers’ findings. She said her selections were based more on the “beat to keep energy up” than the actual type of music.
“It’s a mix of different things,” said Lawson. “I have a workout playlist that ranges from country to ‘80s pop into more recent music.”
Brent Mortimer, preparing to do squats, said he favored “late ‘80s and early ‘90s music.”“Right now, it’s the B-52s,” he said.
Brent Mortimer’s favorite workout songs come from the late ‘80s and early ’90s.
Jamie Grant, who listens exclusively to “all country,” was doing triceps press downs to singer and songwriter Morgan Wallen’s tunes.
Christi Anderson was working up a sweat on the hip abductor machine.
“Mostly heavy metal – Korn, Metallica, Pantera, Rage Against the Machine,” said Anderson, highlighting some of her favorites.
When Kenia Vazquez (a family member) was briefly interrupted on the stair-climber machine and asked about her music selection, she said, “Barry White.”
She was then asked for further clarification: “Do you have someone in mind when you hear those lyrics?”“Yes,” she said, smiling again. “But that’s classified.”
On this day at the Planet Fitness Northampton, it’s all about the music – and the secrets.
Mark Ryan
Mark Ryan is a Tallahassee RN.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee gym goers explain their workout music favorites