A video of a personal trainer being told off by another gym-goer has circulated on TikTok, amassing more than 8 million views.
The footage shows Zahra (@zahrafit.cpt) sprinting on a treadmill for less than 10 seconds as she is approached by a woman who is unhappy with the noise from the machine.
"Hey, stop...I can't even hear my music," shouted the woman, who then walked off leaving Zahra in shock and infuriating the internet.
An extract from the caption says, "When you're just trying to get a solid sprint in, but someone's not thrilled with your playlist choice."
At the start of the November 9 clip, she asks other users how they would have handled the situation. It seems many of the 11,500 users who have commented would have taken a different approach to Zahra, who kept her cool and didn't respond.
"I would [have] been like get better headphones," said one user, and another wrote: "Immediately do it 10 more times."
"Did she think she was in a library?" asked a third commenter, and a fourth said: "I mean, I've heard the loud treadmills but I'm mostly impressed that the ppl on them run so fast without tripping, it's a public space man turn up your music lady or make your own gym at home."
Zahra has since uploaded another video about the incident and she states it has left her with "major anxiety" in case the woman "yells" at her again. Holding back the tears, she adds that she hopes to have a "civil conversation" with the woman.
'Loud Music Can Be Disruptive'
In this case, the noise is unavoidable, but noise complaints can also arise from music being played too loudly. Newsweek discussed this further with Sarah Campus, a London-based personal trainer, who encourages gym-goers to be mindful of their volume.
Campus, who is also a nutrition coach, said: "Loud music can be disruptive if sound leaks from your headphones, distracting others around you and this can potentially be annoying for those around you. Not only this, but long periods of loud music can also harm your hearing, possibly resulting in long-term issues like tinnitus or hearing loss which could also impact your balance."
However, Campus, who owns online coaching platform LDN MUMS FITNESS, understands that music can boost motivation, mood and energy levels.
She said: "Upbeat, high-volume music can also enhance focus, reduce perception of fatigue, and improve performance by encouraging a faster pace or greater intensity like the woman on the treadmill. This can make workouts feel more enjoyable and help you stay engaged, especially during high-intensity exercises."
However, ramping the volume up too high can lead to negative consequences.
"It can make you less aware of your surroundings, including potential hazards like dropped weights or people moving around you," Campus told Newsweek. "This can increase the risk of accidents as you are not completely in tune with your surroundings."
Newsweek is waiting for @zahrafit.cpt to provide a comment.
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