Music and Exercise
5 Ways Music
Enhances Your Workout
It seems like everyone uses an iPod,
a wrist radio, or listens to the music at their local gyms. Have you ever
wondered whether there’s a real benefit to hearing your favorite songs while
you’re exercising? If you’re a diehard music fan,
I’m sure you can list plenty of reasons why it’s an important part of your
life. But there are some universal ways that music enhances exercise.
Here are a few of the most common ways music benefits your workout.
1. Listening to
music promotes dissociation
When totally
absorbed in music, your focus changes from what your body is experiencing to
the external sounds you’re hearing. This situation leads you into a state in
which you ignore negative feelings of fatigue and focus on the pleasurable
feelings you get from following the rhythm of the music.
2. Music acts as a
performance aid
Whether you need to step things up
or cool down, music can help you achieve both. Energizing, fast music can
inject you with vigor. Slow, mellow music can lead to a state of deep relaxation. Depending on
your goals and what you need most, you can use music to achieve it.
3. The rhythm of
the music can enhance your movement flow
If you select
the ideal tempo of music for the exercises you’re doing, you can actually
heighten the flow of your exercises. When strength training, chose songs with a BPM (beats per minute) of about 120 to
keep your speed on track. When running, chose a higher BPM to match your
cadence and keep a comfortable pace. When you’re in sync with the music,
exercise seems smoother and more motivating
4. Choice of music
is important for increasing muscle strength
If your goal is improving strength,
don’t listen to relaxing music
while pumping iron. Studies suggest that you’ll have bigger strength gains if
you exercise in a silent atmosphere than if you exercise while listening to
softer tunes. In fact, slow music can actually decrease muscular ability.
5. Listening to
music you like helps with motivation
This goes right to the core of every workout - motivation. If you hear music you like, you’re
more likely to return and do it again. Listening to songs that you enjoy
increases exercise adherence, thus leading to fitness gains over time.
So, whatever
your reason for putting on the headphones, keep it up. If you’re outside keep
an eye and ear open for oncoming obstacles. Other than that, crank up your
personal favorites and sing along.
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