Singing at the gym

tomatoey

I'm doing extremely boring PT exercises there. I listen to music to get me through it - also to help pace myself / time movements, because I'd rush through them otherwise. But I am still so damn bored I often want to sing along. And I can, because I am not at all exerted by quad sets and bike on no resistance.

How annoying is hearing someone sing or hum at the gym on a scale of 1-10? Not super loud. (I have a decent voice, used to sing here and there, could be worse that way, but I don't think that matters if any singing or humming is intrusive.) I am mostly doing this in a room off to the side where there's just one or two other people, five at a time max.

On one hand I kind of care because it might bother some people. On the other hand, some of them throw their own music onto the public audio system, really loud, when they hit the sandbags, leave their water bottles on equipment and mats, and generally act snotty. So it's not as bad as it could be?

Also again I am so ****ing bored.

Timshel_

I sing to myself everywhere. Not enough to annoy others, but it keeps me motivated and happy.

BrianSharpe

On a scale of 1 to 10 it's an 11 (even though most people around you probably have earbuds and wouldn't even hear you unless you decided to sing the aria from Madam Butterfly...)

Use your best judgement, if no one is too close by go for it.

JoRocka

It's pretty high up there - mostly because most people have no idea how loud they are being.

tomatoey

Yeah maybe I should do most of it at home, and then just go to the gym for the things I need equipment for. It's kind of annoying to break it up that way, though (changing twice). Also, going to the gym helps me feel motivated to actually do that stuff.

demoiselle2014

10. Your voice, even if it is good, will ruin my train of thought and greatly reduce the pleasure of my workout. It may even mean I leave more annoyed and stressed than I arrived.

tomatoey

At any volume?

skeo

I guess I'm annoying then, because yeah for me during cardio I find myself singing along to my music, it's not full on vibrato or loud, just singing a long when I catch a breath, it keeps me going and helps to detract my attention from wanting to stare at the timer on the machine.

demoiselle2014

Yes, at any volume. It's intrusive to make noise like that in a public space. Phone conversations and loud music at the gym are also rude in my opinion.

tomatoey

demoiselle2014 wrote: »

Yes, at any volume. It's intrusive to make noise like that in a public space. Phone conversations and loud music at the gym are also rude in my opinion.

Yeah, I appreciate that. (I don't ordinarily make uncivil noises at the gym, just so you know - this is an extreme circumstance.)

Thanks for your input.

demoiselle2014

You're welcome.

demoiselle2014

skeo wrote: »

I guess I'm annoying then, because yeah for me during cardio I find myself singing along to my music, it's not full on vibrato or loud, just singing a long when I catch a breath, it keeps me going and helps to detract my attention from wanting to stare at the timer on the machine.

Do you/would you stop if asked, out of other people in the gym looked annoyed?

JoRocka

demoiselle2014 wrote: »

Yes, at any volume. It's intrusive to make noise like that in a public space. Phone conversations and loud music at the gym are also rude in my opinion.

nods nods nods nods nods

Phone calls at the gym are so inappropriate and annoying- you have no idea how loud you are trying to communicate with the other person on the phone. It's really really annoying.

I'll take a call and ask if it's important or you need me- and either I'll say later- I'm at the gym- or I'll step outside.

I realize the sub level "singing" that is more like mumbling or whining- also wildly annoying.

wizzybeth

I would only do it if A) there were nobody else around, or if the people near me were ALL wearing earbuds. Otherwise, no.

skeo

If someone asked me, sure I would stop.

skeo

skeo wrote: »

If someone asked me, sure I would stop.

Edited to add: I go to a large gym, it's noisy, people grunt, drop weights, and there is music over the intercom.
In a small space, or a small apartment style gym, I would not because yes, I would be annoyed. On the other hand, others have done the opposite; like plug their phones into a small speaker device and play music like it's their own personal space. So I would guess that someone singing a long to their music in a sort of muted tone wouldn't be a bother.

msf74

Well it couldn't be worse than the group of young lads in the free weights section who loudly discuss their sexual exploits between sets which I have got used to so no, it wouldn't be high on my list of annoying things...

Virkati

I equate it to someone having a phone conversation that I didn't ask to be part of and that I can't get away from unless I stop what I'm doing and move as far away as possible. Or leaving if necessary. I totally understand your boredom though, no resistance on the machine drives me insane. I had to do the same thing for my knee. Made me cranky!!

tomatoey

Virkati wrote: »

I equate it to someone having a phone conversation that I didn't ask to be part of and that I can't get away from unless I stop what I'm doing and move as far away as possible. Or leaving if necessary. I totally understand your boredom though, no resistance on the machine drives me insane. I had to do the same thing for my knee. Made me cranky!!

Haha, thanks. Yes, so cranky!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts

sk1982

i dont sing out loud but i sing in my head and sometimes mouth the words....its all about the intention and not the actual doing i find that helps....i also make funny movements with my hands along with the beat....

mattyc772014

I have this problem in the office as well. Cannot hear at the gym with headphones on so im good. Besides singing....what about whistling? I hear it and automatically think Bluto in Animal House destroying the guitar on the stairs. I heard the Russians did some research on using music that you dont like for your workout. You hate the music so much that you actually are so pissed you have better workouts. It has been proven..I think.

jemhh

It's really annoying.

I'll put it this way. I have an 8 year old daughter. My own flesh and blood. I think she is wonderful and magnificent and the best kid ever. But when she puts on headphones and starts singing along to whatever song she's listening to? I'm tempted to tell her that Santa is not real, because the sound of a child sobbing is preferable to that mumbly singing-along-to-unhearable-music-while-wearing-headphones sound.

tomatoey

mattyc772014 wrote: »

I have this problem in the office as well. Cannot hear at the gym with headphones on so im good. Besides singing....what about whistling? I hear it and automatically think Bluto in Animal House destroying the guitar on the stairs. I heard the Russians did some research on using music that you dont like for your workout. You hate the music so much that you actually are so pissed you have better workouts. It has been proven..I think.

Ha! I'm not a whistler, unfortunately. This Russian idea, I have to say, sounds pretty terrible on the face of it, given that I am already peeved at the whole situation, but maybe it's worth a try! Thanks

whatatime2befit

I work out in a very loud gym. There's always music playing on the speakers, a bunch of different conversations going on, laughing, guys kidding around. Adding singing on top of that wouldn't dent the noise level.

I tend to wear headphones to block out some of the noise. When I forget my ipod/headphones, it's always interesting to have to listen to the men giving dating advice to some of the other guys. After that, singing wouldn't bother me at all.

tomatoey

So the consensus seems to be that it may be ok at a low volume only under certain conditions - i.e. everyone else is wearing earphones or I am alone or I am amongst other very noisy people and noise. And observe others even if wearing headphones to see if they're annoyed. Otherwise shut up. Got it.

jemhh wrote: »

It's really annoying.

I'll put it this way. I have an 8 year old daughter. My own flesh and blood. I think she is wonderful and magnificent and the best kid ever. But when she puts on headphones and starts singing along to whatever song she's listening to? I'm tempted to tell her that Santa is not real, because the sound of a child sobbing is preferable to that mumbly singing-along-to-unhearable-music-while-wearing-headphones sound.

Ha! Aw

tomatoey

sk1982 wrote: »

i dont sing out loud but i sing in my head and sometimes mouth the words....its all about the intention and not the actual doing i find that helps....i also make funny movements with my hands along with the beat....

Yeah, I do that too, and kind of "dance", on the elliptical, sometimes.

theawill519

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that it would amuse me, not annoy me. I've been around someone half-singing on a treadmill before and I thought it was funny and it kind of lifted my spirits to know they were in a good enough mood to sing aloud at the gym, haha.

However, clearly, the consensus is that it's annoying.

tomatoey

Thea519 wrote: »

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that it would amuse me, not annoy me. I've been around someone half-singing on a treadmill before and I thought it was funny and it kind of lifted my spirits to know they were in a good enough mood to sing aloud at the gym, haha.

However, clearly, the consensus is that it's annoying.

JoRocka

tomatoey wrote: »

sk1982 wrote: »

i dont sing out loud but i sing in my head and sometimes mouth the words....its all about the intention and not the actual doing i find that helps....i also make funny movements with my hands along with the beat....

Yeah, I do that too, and kind of "dance", on the elliptical, sometimes.

dance all you like- no shame in that game. people may laugh/look at you funny- but I'm all about dancing between sets.

jemhh

I could completely ignore dancing, assuming the dancer wasn't getting in my face. Sounds are harder to ignore, for me, and I get aurally overwhelmed when there are too many at the same time.

spicy618

whatatime2befit wrote: »

I work out in a very loud gym. There's always music playing on the speakers, a bunch of different conversations going on, laughing, guys kidding around. Adding singing on top of that wouldn't dent the noise level.

I tend to wear headphones to block out some of the noise. When I forget my ipod/headphones, it's always interesting to have to listen to the men giving dating advice to some of the other guys. After that, singing wouldn't bother me at all.

This gave me an idea you could use.

Turn the volume of the TV really loud... now you can sing!... lol

Seriously though, I like to sing to myself when I'm working out, but I don't sing the whole song. I just mouth most of it and sometimes a few words or humming is heard, but I try to keep it very low. I think you can try it and if you are getting Nasty stares, shut it up.