How Can Music Enhance Your Workout?

Music is a motivator. Throughout history, music has been used as a way to lift our spirits and drive us to get moving. For example, you’ve probably noticed that many people absentmindedly tap their feet along to the beat when a song is playing. This is because music is just as much about movement as it is about listening. Cultures around the globe use music as a medium for movement. Music is a universal phenomenon, and similarly, dance is a universal way of channeling our natural instinct to move when it is playing.

However, you don’t need to dance to channel these natural urges to move. These innate tendencies we have to move along with the music can be taken advantage of when engaging in any type of exercise. If you’re looking for some extra motivation to push yourself to the next level physically, clicking play on your iPod might give you the extra motivation you need.

Research has found that listening to music you enjoy leads to the release of dopamine, which will provide you with feelings of reward and contentment. Experiencing those feelings of reward during the times when you’re exerting yourself physically will make the whole process more enjoyable.

Here are some ways to use music to enhance your workout:

Choose music that suits your style of exercise

If you’re engaging in a form of exercise that requires a lot of physical exertion, such as HIIT or strength training exercises, you’ll likely benefit from using upbeat music. Music with lyrics you enjoy singing along to may be beneficial because the words will serve as a distraction from the difficulty of the exercise. Slow music can have an effect on our activity levels, so you want to make sure you’re listening to something with a quick tempo that energizes you.

One study found that cyclists who listened to upbeat music not only worked harder  but made the choice to work harder because they were more motivated. Try doing some research on great songs for runners and you’ll have an ideal playlist set up in no time.

For types of exercise that involve a lot of mental focus and slow transitions, such as yoga, you may want to experiment with music at a slower tempo. Typically, instrumental music works well with yoga because it will allow you to focus on your breathing patterns and movements without the lyrics distracting you. Many people who use music to study find songs with lyrics take away from their ability to focus mentally. Likewise, you may experience the same issues when practicing yoga.

However, remember that slow music can also slow down the body and make you feel relaxed. This means you’ll need to experiment with finding a style of music that works for your unique exercise routine. For some more song suggestions, take a look at this article.

Condition yourself

In the beginning of the twentieth century, a scientist named Ivan Pavlov discovered the phenomenon of classical conditioning. Pavlov discovered that his dogs would salivate not only when they saw their food, but also when they saw the person who would be feeding them. This meant that the presence of actual food wasn’t necessary to trigger the right bodily response. The dogs weren’t salivating because they saw or smelled their meals, but because they saw the person they associated with feeding time.

This psychological principle is also known as “conditioning”. Conditioning means we can train people or animals to react in a certain way when they hear, see, or feel a certain stimulus that they’ve learned to associate with something else.

Similarly, you can teach yourself to associate certain types of music with working out. If you listen to a certain workout playlist while you exercise over and over again, you’ll likely begin to associate those songs with exerting yourself physically. Eventually, the workouts will become habitual and you’ll find it much easier to get exercising right after pressing play on your iPod.

Tap into the metric pulse

Music will also allow you to enhance your physical performance through the pulse or beat. Research has shown that listening to music with a steady pulse can lead to the body performing in a more optimal way when engaged in physical activity.

A study in 2012 found that cyclists who cycled in time to music required 7% less oxygen than cyclists who didn’t synchronize their cycling with music. The steady beat in music can therefore help athletes or other fitness enthusiasts decrease the amount of energy they use when exercising, which will allow them to push themselves physically for a longer period of time.

If you’re looking to increase your endurance through music, try to find a song with a tempo of about 120 bpm as this is a good speed for most physical activities. While exercising, synchronize your breath to the music and you’ll see improvements in no time.

About Natalie Wilson:
I’ve been playing guitar since I was just five years old. Throughout my career, I’ve taught music lessons to all ages and have seen the benefits of music engagement first-hand in my students.

I love to share tips about the power of music on my blog: Musical Advisors. On my blog, you’ll find reviews, tutorials, tips for musicians, and more.

Contact me at: natalie.musicaladvisors@gmail.com