Loud Fitness With Kirstie: An Alternative Way to Work Out!

The fitness industry wouldn’t be the same without music.

Whether it’s relaxing music in a yoga class, energetic tracks during a kickboxing session, or your favourite songs in a dance group, music is the best form of motivation.

I don’t know about you, but I rely on a selection of songs (my favourite is Run Boy Run!) to motivate myself to lace my trainers up and get out there!

I recently spoke to Loud Fitness by Kirstie, a local Fitness Instructor whose classes are fuelled on powerful alternative music!

On 17 January, Kirstie hosted SweatStock at the Waterfront, a rock fitness festival that featured wellness activities, fitness classes, heavy metal therapy and plenty of incredible music!

Throughout the day, Kirstie was joined by Graces Rock Fitness, Rockfit with Bliss, Rockfit with Char, Seed of Change Wellness and QiGoth.

The festival raised more than £1,000 for Heavy Metal Therapy.

I spoke to Kirstie about her incredible journey as a Fitness Instructor, the impact social media has had on the industry, her plans for the year ahead and the power music has in fitness!

When did your journey in the fitness industry begin?

I had always been quite exercise-phobic... I still have an old school report which says, "Kirstie should be aware that a general level of fitness is required for everyday tasks".

I was a chubby kid that became a sedentary adult who ate her feelings.

In 2016, I found myself in a very toxic relationship. I was with someone who liked to tear me down and when I saw an opportunity to join an 8-week charity boxing event, his response was "hah, you can't do that".

Rebellion and stubbornness run deep in my bones, so of course, I signed up. It was hard, I struggled.

My fitness was not where it needed to be.

I was told to do more cardio, so I signed up to my local gym. That's where I joined a BodyCombat class and magic happened.

I found a fun, supportive instructor and a class which made me feel like a badass! I was hooked by the music, the laughs, the joy that I felt.

I soon started joining more classes and finding myself immersed in group fitness classes.

I went from being shy in the back row to a proud front row diva.

My instructor encouraged me to book the training and I did. In 2017 I started leading my own classes and have been teaching in gyms and community centres since.

I've dabbled in many different things over the years, but my mission has always been making fitness fun. Welcoming people like me who never felt like they belonged.

Over the last couple of years, I've moved away from gyms and primarily focus on teaching in community centres under my brand Loud Fitness where I can tailor my classes and my community to be exactly what I want it to be.

What classes do you run?

All my classes are rooted in alternative music.

My timetable currently includes RockFit (a dance-based workout) and ZenRock (a yoga-based class). I have a combat inspired class coming soon too.

I teach classes and organise fitness events in Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

How important is it to you to run your classes on a ‘pay as you go’ scheme?

People have busy lives and limited resources.

Offering my classes as a pay as you go gives people the freedom to join as and when it suits them.

I keep my classes as low cost as I can to ensure that they are accessible for the types of people who are most likely to need them.

Some of my regulars have unsociable shift patterns and can't make it every week. Others can only come if they manage to get the kids settled in time.

Offering flexibility is a key part of the community I'm trying to create.

What impact do you think social media has had on the fitness industry?

I think having access to so much information at your fingertips can be an amazing thing.

However, for those that are starting their journeys, that overload of information can be overwhelming.

It is hard to know who to trust on social media as anyone can have a voice and get a large following.

The rise of things like 'skinnytok' concerns me as it leads down a path of misinformation that ranges from being ridiculous to downright dangerous. I do think it would be worthwhile to have tighter controls on health advice.

That being said though, there are some incredible creators out there who give amazing advice, promote healthy habits, exude body positivity and encourage others to find joy in movement.

They are the ones I'd love to see more of - they are the people that truly change people’s lives.

What is your proudest moment since working in the fitness industry?

I don't think I could pinpoint it to a single moment.

But I can tell you the type of moment that hits me in the feels every time... Whenever I hear a participant say, "you made me love exercise", or "I never thought I'd enjoy an exercise class this much".

That moment I get to see an ex-‘exercisephobe’ convert. Seeing someone go through the same journey I did.

Partly because I'm proud of myself for achieving my mission, but more so because I am proud of that person for the commitment they have put towards themselves.

How important is the relationship between your physical and mental health?

Treating our body well by fuelling it properly, hydrating adequately and moving it often goes a significant way to helping mental health.

It is not a cure or a replacement for medication/therapies, but when you feel well in your physical self, you're more likely to feel well mentally too.

Your resilience and ability to manage stress will be greater if your body is healthy.

Just think about how miserable you end up feeling when you're unwell. It can be tough.

Finding the energy to dedicate to improving physical health is hard when you're struggling with your mental health, but small steps help. Getting adequate rest, staying hydrated, moving frequently... find ways to make it feel less like a chore.

Get a friend to buddy up with you and do things together, or give yourself rewards for building healthy habits. Make fitness fun and find joy in movement where you can.

What power can music have in the fitness industry?

For me, music is the backbone of fitness.

The right song combined with the right workout makes the whole experience feel euphoric. Teaching exercise to music is a joy as people can lose themselves in the music and forget that they're even working out.

Quite often people come for the music and the community. Especially teaching classes with a focus on alternative music.

It's already a really strong community where we come together in spaces to move together. It's just a little more structured when you come to a class!

Music can take you on a journey, making the peaks of energy feel like a full body experience. Even when I'm lifting heavy weights in the gym, I usually need the right music to channel my power and focus.

If you could choose one song to play every time you’re getting ready to exercise, what would you choose and why?

This is so impossible for me! I love so many different styles of music and different types of exercise need different moods!

I tend to love something that's heavy and also has a good beat! Maybe something by Electric Callboy... Pump It has a video set in a gym, so I'll go with that!

How did it feel to be part of The Alternative Fitness Fest 2025?

It was a brilliant event!

I've done quite a few events over the years, and I think Grace did a phenomenal job bringing everything together.

The range of different classes and the energy of the participants was perfect. And getting to teach alongside so many incredible instructors was wonderful.

I love being part of events that bring together communities and introduce people to new things. I think it really embodies why a lot of us get involved in the fitness industry.

What do you love most about the fitness community across Norfolk?

There are lots of really incredible people working in fitness.

One thing I really love is how collaborative people are in Norfolk. We have so many incredible events, independent gyms and community classes in our area.

The buzz amongst the fitness community in Norfolk is exciting and I love being part of it. We have so much on offer that there really is a place for everyone who wants one.

Many of us can feel anxious about attending a fitness class or the gym for the first time. How can we overcome this?

Anxiety is a natural part of the process and there is no easy fix.

Taking a leap of faith and stepping into the unknown is hard but it's a mindset thing.

It's easy to get trapped into a thought pattern of negativity. "What if I mess up? What if it's rubbish? What if it goes wrong?" etc.

Reframing your thoughts to positive questions "what if this first step is the beginning of me changing my life? What if I meet loads of new friends? What if they play all my favourite songs?".

Different people have anxieties around different things and I always encourage people to reach out before they go to discuss them.

If I know what your struggle is, I'll do everything I can to help! I can assign you a 'spot' that suits your needs (do you want to hide at the back? Be near a chair in case you need a break? At the front with good visibility? Near the door so you don't feel trapped?).

I can introduce you to a few of the class members if you're worried about being there on your own. I can have a chat with you before we start and break everything down and talk through all your options.

It's brave to start something new, let us help you by telling us what you need.

What are your plans for 2026?

I'm starting off 2026 on a high, riding off the massive success of the very first SweatStock, a rockin' fitness festival for charity.

We raised over £1000 for Heavy Metal Therapy at The Waterfront.

Once I finish submitting my taxes and coming back down to earth, planning begins for the next iteration which will hopefully take place in the summer!

I am also now in the process of launching a new class which will enable people to let off a bit more steam than they do in my current classes!

Besides that, my main aim is to keep expanding Loud Fitness.

I've got a few ideas for ways to branch out that I'm keen to explore over this year so watch this space!

To keep up to date with the incredible work of Kirstie, you can head to her Instagram (@loudfitnesswithkirstie)!