Hi there!

Before we jump into today’s topic, I want to say thank you to those of you who replied to last week’s email.​

I asked about the first piece of exercise technology you remember… and your responses were fantastic.

There was such a variety of memories.

Some of you mentioned the Total Gym, others remembered Weider gold plates for barbells at home.

And a few of you introduced me to equipment I had never even heard of before.

One that stood out was the Slim Gym from the 1970s.

I have to admit — that was a new one for me.

What I loved most about the replies wasn’t just the equipment itself. It was the stories attached to them.

Because technology doesn’t just shape how we exercise.

It shapes the memories we build around movement.

So if something comes to mind as you read today’s email — an old piece of equipment, something tucked away in a basement gym, or a workout tool from years ago — feel free to hit reply and share it with me. I genuinely enjoy hearing these stories.

​Last week we looked at some of the earliest examples of exercise technology.

Bicycles.
Spring resistance machines.
Even those vibration belts that promised to “shake” you into fitness.

Technology has always been part of how we move.

But somewhere along the way, something shifted.

Exercise became… personal.

And music played a big role in that shift.

So let’s slow this down for a moment.

Before the 1980s, music in exercise mostly came from the room you were in. Maybe there was a stereo in the gym. Maybe a cassette playing during a fitness class. But everyone heard the same thing.

Then came the portable radio and the Walkman.

Suddenly people could take music with them. On a walk. On a run. On a bike ride.

Movement became portable.

And something interesting happened.

People started moving longer.

From a movement perspective, music changes how the nervous system experiences effort. It can reduce the perception of fatigue, influence rhythm, and create a sense of momentum.​

It’s not just background noise.

It becomes part of the experience of movement.

The technology kept evolving.

The Discman arrived in the 1990s (along with the challenge of trying to run without the CD skipping).

Then came the iPod in the early 2000s. Thousands of songs in your pocket.

And now?

Most of us carry our entire music library on our phones. Wireless earbuds. Noise-cancelling headphones. Playlists designed specifically for workouts.

The technology keeps getting smaller.

But the effect is still the same.

It changes how movement feels.

And yet, something interesting hasn’t changed.

Your body still responds to rhythm.
Your nervous system still responds to pacing.
And movement still works best when it meets you where you are.

Technology may change the interface.

But the body still speaks the same language.

🤨 So I’m curious again this week.

What was the first way you listened to music while exercising?

A Walkman clipped to your waistband?
A Discman bouncing in a backpack?
An iPod shuffle?
Or maybe a playlist on your phone today?

Hit reply and tell me. I always enjoy hearing your stories.

Next week I’m going to share a story from my synchronized swimming days — when I thought we had the most high-tech training setup imaginable.

And at the time, it felt like the future.

Be well and happy moving,
Lisa

Supporting you in your physical activity journey.

​www.lisaworkman.com​