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 There’s something about music that lifts the spirit and boosts the energy level. No matter how tired you may be at the end of a long day, music can rejuvenate you and keep you going longer.
Because music has the power to energize, it is a marvelous tool to use during your workouts. When you crank up your favorite music, not only will you discover that you feel more pumped up to exercise, but you will also find exercise sessions to be less boring and tedious.
The Smooth 6.45M comes with built-in speakers and MP3 plug-in. Learn More. Enjoy your favorite sounds while you burn the calories.
Music Motivates
Let’s face it…no matter what kind of exercise you engage in, it can become boring after awhile. Perhaps you find yourself constantly counting the minutes that you have been exercising or the distance you have gone. Time may seem to drag on and on, and the workout session may seem endless.
Turn on your favorite music during that workout session, however, and see what happens. The music can literally change your attitude and motivate you to try harder. Instead of watching the clock, you just might pick up a pace that keeps time to the beat. No matter what kind of music you listen to, it can get your blood flowing and your body moving.
According to Angie Proctor, Executive Director of the Aquatic Exercise Association, “Music has become one of the strongest motivators in exercise adherence and is largely responsible for the success of physical fitness activities not only in group exercise settings, but also in personal cardio training and strength training.”
Ms. Proctor commented about the relationship between music and exercise. “Music and movement is a natural relationship and to get more of our population moving, this needs to be emphasized.”
What Research Shows About Music and Exercise
Through a number of research studies, evidence has been found that music influences one’s level of arousal. If one is fatigued, upbeat music has the amazing power to wash away the fatigue and invigorate the mind and body. If one feels high-strung, listening to soft, slow music has the power to calm and relax the mind and body.
D. Elliot, S. Carr, and D. Savage, authors of Journal of Sport Behavior (2004), wrote that listening to music with an upbeat or fast tempo leads athletes to perform better during exercise.
Gfeller, the author of Journal of Music Therapy (1988), deduced that “music influences arousal if it promotes thoughts that encourage physical activity or relaxation. Music and the rhythm or beat of the music automatically get the human body moving. Therefore, it is not surprising that many athletes would listen to music in order to achieve a higher or lower level of arousal and get their bodies moving.”
When music is applied to workout sessions, it tends to vitalize the exerciser, making him or her feel pumped up and eager to work. Oftentimes, exercising to music motivates one to work out at higher intensity levels.
Whether you’re doing cardio exercises, flexibility workouts, or strength training, try incorporating music into your workouts. You’ll soon learn that those workouts can be enhanced merely by listening to your favorite tunes. If you often become bored during physical fitness activities, music can replace the boredom by adding a fun element to exercise routines.
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