Goth Fitness

The other day after a really great sweat session, with an equally great playlist, I thought to myself, “The sole motivation for me to open my own gym would be to have goth fitness nights.”

On the surface, goth fitness seems like the antithesis of typical fitness culture. Gym design is generally really bright and sterile, from the lighting design to the upbeat, cliché motivational text strewn throughout the space. Not to mention, the music is often horrific. There are few things that motivate me less than generic top forty pop pumping through a sound system. Alternatively, goths thrive in dim environments and eschew mainstream music scenes and platitudes. But exercise is one of those practically universal activities that brings so many diverse groups and bodies together.

I recall there being a goth inspired (appropriated is perhaps a more apt term) fitness subculture, called “health goth,” sometime in the early aughts. Although perhaps in typical goth manner, I was apathetic to it. My nights/early mornings were spent working up a sweat while dancing to dark wave, EDM, industrial, synth-pop and goth rock in New York’s renowned goth clubs and events like Downtime at Albion/Batcave. More recently, the infamous St. Vitus venue and bar in Brooklyn had been organizing Goth themed HIIT workouts. And then, there’s an episode from the Adult Swim Infomercial series called “Goth Fitness,” which is a surreal and humorous sketch about a fitness influencer power couple who leave the traditional gym world behind for a more supernatural type of workout that focuses on strength training via the dark arts. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that chaos ensues.

The sketch is totally absurd and irrational, but it hits on the crux of subcultures, whether it be gym or goth scenes. Influencers can make us do some wild things. I understand, as I’ve always been on the fringes of the underground subcultures I aspired to belong to. My social anxiety was prohibitive for me to move upward through the ranks of the “cool” punk and goth cliques I wanted to fit in with. I’ve always considered myself an outsider looking in. But at the same time, when you’re in the goth club, all inhibitions get left behind. It’s one of the most replete and liberating mind and body sensations. I am able to maintain complete focus on how my body feels in the moment when I’m pulsating, gyrating and being absolutely absorbed by a good beat. I’d say the exact same thing about the times when I’m working out, which is why I believe goth fitness is the perfect concept from both a personal and cultural standpoint.

In addition to feeling good, aesthetics is another common denominator between goth and gym lifestyles. Whether you’re getting suited up to go dancing or deadlifting, it’s all about putting forth an effort to look good. Bodybuilding and goth fashion are each very visually striking. Why go through all that conscious effort to be seen in such a manner? For me, it comes down to valuing myself and cherishing my body and mind. I want the world to see the fruits of my labor, but more than that, I want to show myself and others what self-love looks like.