In Manchester, gym workouts for indie music fans

The Fit Sessions in the UK is hoping to entice alternative music fans — not typically the most sporty types — to keep fit by bouncing along to the indie genre's more upbeat tracks.

For many, exercise is more of a chore than something to look forward to, and for others it’s only bearable if there’s a distraction to take their mind off what they’re actually doing. In the past, Blue Goji has successfully tricked people into doing exercise to control games characters. Now The Fit Sessions in the UK is hoping to entice alternative music fans — not typically the most sporty types — to keep fit by bouncing along to the indie genre’s more upbeat tracks.

One thing that may put music connoisseurs off the traditional gym class is the thumping dance music that’s often pumped out to keep members in a good rhythm. Taking cues from New York City’s SoulCycle — which matches exercise bike workouts with high energy hip hop — The Fit Sessions offers guided fitness classes with a playlist of indie tracks with a Manchester bent. Think Happuy Mondays, New Order, Oasis, and potentially the less wistful Smiths songs.

The hour-long classes take place at Wobbleyou every Tuesday and cost GBP 6 (compared to SoulCycle’s USD 20+ sessions). Are there other ways to combine workouts with the mental stimulation that high-minded art provides?