Twenty years ago we used cassette players, ten years ago it was portable CD players, five years ago we were burning our own CD’s and since then it has been the onslaught of the ever popular iPod and other related MP3 players. Our world has changed so drastically in such a short time period. This new revolution has been so big, that I am now crediting these iPod’s and MP3 players with literally tons of weight lost during exercising. For those us who exercise regularly, these devices have become the norm in our workout routines. Glance at any runner, walker or people working out at a gym in your area and you will see what I am talking about (as if you have been living in a cave). The percentages are much higher today than in the past. Have we become antisocial towards other people? Maybe, but maybe we are just in the “iZone”. We love these things so much and for so many reasons.
So, what’s the big difference? Whether its twenty years ago or today, we are still listening to music. Why are we so addicted to these machines and what about them puts us in this “iZone”. The differences are obvious. First comes size. Those old clunky cassette players and CD players were just too big. Although you could strap it to your waist or arm, it just was not that appealing to have it weighting you down, besides the fact that the CD’s often skipped and the cassettes needed to be flipped. The newest players are as small as a pack of gum or even smaller and we have an abundance of accessories that aid us in forgetting that we are wearing them.
Second, we can store a near infinite number of songs on our little white gems. Regardless of size we can choose from somewhere around 100 songs to tens of thousands. WOW! That just blows those old fossils out of the water. Imagine a new MP3 player on sale at your local electronics store that holds a whopping 15 songs! Huh? Doesn’t sound like such a hot buy? Well in the 80’s and 90’s our cassette players and CD players held just around that many.
Now lets talk about ease of use. We didn’t mind recording tapes and CD’s that much, but boy was it time consuming. We now use our computers with USB or Firewire cables and boy it is an absolute snap. We save time and picking songs is simple also. No more loading cassettes and then fast-forwarding to find a spot. CD’s may have been a little bit easier, but they still required the right equipment and time.
Those are the obvious differences, but not the leading reason for our lust. We are in love with the individuality and diversity that these machines afford us. The words individuality and diversity have been etched in our vocabulary over the past ten years and that is exactly what iPod’s and MP3 players deliver for us. With the ease of use and song storing capacity we gain an immense amount of power. We stuff these creations chock full of diversity. Everyday in our lives we have many moods. Maybe we just had a bad night or maybe we just got some great news. Without worrying about any extra time or thought, we can go to the gym and scroll through artist after artist and pick what our mood demands. We almost never have a loss for music that appeals to us. It could be a brand new hit single or some song from the past that gets us psyched and ready to go. The primitive ancestors we were accustomed to just couldn’t deliver this remarkable feature. Imagine being instantly motivated because of a library that seems endless. That is exactly what the creators of these modern marvels have done for us.
We hear stories about the obesity epidemic in America almost everyday. So how can my claim be substantiated? Regardless of any other factors, we have a large amount of people in this country who workout on a regular basis. Gym memberships have increased over the past decade. Of those people exercising, a significant percentage of them are utilizing our newest technologies to their advantage. iPod’s and MP3 players give us a chance to get out of our bodies and minds for that workout period and can actually make time seem to go faster. Instead of thinking about every step you take, your mind is focused on that song that is geared for a specific mood. You have an almost out of body experience. This “iZone” creates a new place for us. This place allows us to perform at an optimal level regardless of where we are and who is around us. So keep those batteries charged and those song lists fresh and America’s weight loss will continue on its current hot streak for those of us who are committed to staying healthy.
If you haven’t begun yet, this is such a great way to get started and make a difference in your life. Pick up an iPod or take that one you have off your desk and start working out. Join the revolution. It can be as simple as a short walk here or there or you can renew that old gym membership. Any place can be a starting point to a new lifetime commitment. Update that song list and give it a try. Let those songs release your minds grip over your body. It can change the way you think about exercising. I guarantee you will experience the “iZone” for yourself. Good Luck and what the heck, sing out loud while you run down the block!
Mike Michels is a Science Teacher at Indian Hills High School in Oakland, New Jersey. He has Co-Authored two books through Kagan Cooperative Learning. They are "Cooperative Learning & Science: High School Activities" and "Higher-Level Thinking Questions: Biology". The books can be previewed and purchased online by visiting http://kaganonline.com/
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Written By: Michael Michels
