For some people, music is something that they cannot live without. On the other hand, some people deem it unnecessary. There have been many studies about the effects of music on human behavior. One of which is its relationship with exercises and workouts.
Whether you are running, biking, weight lifting, skiing, or doing yoga, music can have an effect on your daily exercise routines. Here are some of the benefits of listening to music while you workout:
- Music Increases Your Efforts – The intensity of the music that you are listening to can push you to your limits. Songs that are too slow or too fast may not be good. The ideal tempo per each song is 120 to 140 beats per minute. However, people who are running on treadmills prefer songs that are 160 beats per minute.
- Music Sets Your Mood – Most of us have a hard time starting the day with exercise. With music, you can stay alive and awake when you jog in the morning.
- Music is a Good Distraction – When you listen to music, you would not feel physical pain and stress easily because it strengthens your endurance. You can lift heavier weights and you can stretch more because you are more concentrated in the music that you are listening to.
- Music Keeps You in God Pacing – The beats can keep you on the right pacing of your exercise. If you need fast pacing, you can listen to faster music.
- Music Drives You to Move – Music naturally makes us act on certain things because it is a good motivator. Your brain gets excited when you listen to music. Therefore, it sends signal to the whole body that it needs to move.
Now that you already know the benefits of listening to music, the next step is to choose the music that you should use in your workout playlist. Selecting songs for your workout playlist is not just about finding fast, happy tunes. Rather, it is about matching your music with the exercise that you are doing.
Also, you do not need to stick to one genre of music. You can switch from pop to country, from ballad to rock, or from R&B to hip hop. Just make sure that the songs that you choose are fit with you exercises. Here is a list of pop songs that are really fun to use during workouts:
- The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes – Although this song seems like something that you would listen to when you engage in boxing and martial arts, this can be used in other sports too.
- Domino by Jessie J. – This song can be used in Pilates classes. Instead of using slow songs, this song can keep a Pilates class alive.
- Happy by Pharell – This song has a very bright tune that can really get you in the mood to move. This is a perfect song to start the day right with exercise.
- Halo by Beyonce – If you plan to do some yoga and you want a slow yet powerful music, Queen B’s Halo is the perfect track. Its pacing is slow but its intensity will keep your senses alive.
- Starships by Nicki Minaj – This song has a lively bit that is perfect for aerobics. You can easily dance to this tune.
- Hips Don’t Lie by Beyonce and Shakira – If you really want to shake and groove, this song is the perfect jam. You can dance your way to fitness and be inspired by two very sexy women who sang this song.
If you don’t know how to build a playlist for yourself, some gyms and fitness clubs like Anytime Fitness or World Gym can provide you a suggested playlist for different seasons and exercises.