Killer beats are more than just a way to make embarrassing moves on the gym floor. You can boost your performance with your favorite songs. Music is banned in many running races and marathons, especially for professionals or those who are hoping to win a medal. Music can help you compete and keep your sanity while running.
Let’s face it, most people reach for good music to help them exercise and motivate themselves. Science backs us up, which is the good news. It’s possible to keep your fitness goals in check by listening to your favorite songs. These are 10 reasons to turn up the volume or down during your next workout.
1. It will get you out of the door
Are you not feeling like getting out of bed and putting on your workout clothes? Turn on the music. Music can motivate you to move. One study showed that music can help you start a run or encourage you to continue.
2. You will work harder without even realizing it
Do you feel like your progress is slowing down? You might consider adding some selected songs to your next workout. One studyTrusted source showed that participants pedaled faster while listening to music but didn’t find it more difficult than slower pedaling with no music.
Multiple studiesTrusted source have demonstrated that music can be especially powerful during endurance and repetitive activities. You can increase your performance and decrease perceived exertion by choosing the music that you enjoy the most. Music can help you feel more relaxed or motivated to exercise, without making you feel like you’re doing anything.
Although researchers don’t know why, many believe it is due to the metronome effects that a good beat can have. You may find the right song to help you keep your pace steady, distract from the difficult parts of your workout, or both.
3. Jams can turn up the heat
Music can lift your mood, and get you ready for slay. Music’s tempo and volume can have an impact on how you perform, but how you feel about the music is more important.
There is no one perfect music for every workout. The memories and lyricsTrustedSource that songs bring up are powerful and very personal. It is what the song or playlist makes us feel that matters most.
4. You can calm down or…
Yes, it is possible to get too excited. You can slow down your heart rate by listening to slower music (80-115 BPM) before you start a race, race, or intense workout. According to a review published in The Sport Journal, beats are important, but lyrics and how you feel about music can have an impact on your emotions and help with regain control. According to a small study, listening to music can help you to avoid “choking”, which is hesitating or avoiding taking action when you play sports.
5. Increase coordination
Music doesn’t need to be accompanied by a beat to influence your movement. No matter what your movements are, music encourages rhythmic movementTrusted Source
According to a study, listening to music can increase electrical activity in brain regions responsible for coordination of movements. A good beat can make HIIT or aerobic classes easier to follow. Your body will naturally move to the beatTrusted Source.
6. Push your limits
Fatigue is the number one reason to stop a great workout. Music can help you see your limits and reduce fatigue. A studyTrusted Source found that 12 male participants enjoyed faster music while cycling and performed better with slower music.
Music can help you forget about the extra effort, and distract from it. You can train harder and have a better workout without feeling overwhelmed.
But you can’t push your body to its limits. When you are working at your maximum, music is less effective in decreasing your perceived exertion.
StudiesTrusted source have demonstrated that music ceases to be effective once your heart rate reaches the anaerobic area. Your body and muscles crave oxygen more than music. Music can’t compete with super-intensity training.
7. Making a difficult workout more fun
Anybody who has ever been to a spin class that features heavy beats will tell you how much music makes a tough workout easier. You can distract yourself from the intense workout by listening to good music.
One studyTrusted source with 34 participants discovered that music was more effective in making a workout more fun than simply watching a video.
Why? Why? Because it’s easier to get lost in the music and forget about the negative feelings associated with an activity. It becomes more enjoyable.
Another study showed that a playlist can help reduce your perceived exertion (or how hard you feel you are working) during moderate and low-intensity exercise. Researchers also discovered that music and video were more powerful when combined, and that these effects increased with time. The more time participants spent exercising, the stronger the music and video were.
Don’t forget your headphones when you go for a long run!
8. But you may be too distracted
There is a fine line between mindlessly chugging along on a spinbike and juggling weights distractedly. When you groove to the beat, it’s easy for your form to be forgotten or to lose sight of how your body feels.
Pro tip: Avoid injury by listening to the music and checking in with your body.
9. Increase your cadence to avoid injury
Runners rejoice! Music that is at the right pace can increase your cadence, and help to avoid injury. High cadence is associated with lower injury rates in endurance runners. These small steps can help to reduce impact force and align your body for better impact.
An study of 26 recreational runners showed that running to music between 130-200 BPM sped up their footfalls or slowed them down in tune with the music. To boost your cadence, choose music between 160 and 180 BPM.
Pro tip: Spotify, Jog.fm let you select songs according to BPM.
10. You will recover quicker
Slow jams can help you lower your heart rate and make it easier to recover after a workout. A study that involved 60 participants showed that slow music reduces blood pressure, slows heart beat, and speeds up recovery. Research also showed that slow music speeds up recovery than fast or silence.
Another studyTrusted source with 12 participants showed that fast music can increase intensity during a workout but slow music can help you get back to your resting heart beat faster.
Soothing beats can help reduce cardiac stressTrustedSource and speed up recovery, so you’re more ready to go for your next workout sooner. You can also reduce stress by choosing the right songs. Stress can slow down recovery and negatively impact performance.
Bottom line
You don’t have to bring your music to every class. Music is not unlimited.
Music cannot magically make you reach your physical limits. Music has no effect on endurance, strength, or perceived effort at high heart rates or anaerobic zones. Music can’t make any workout fun.
Music can make a boring workout or hard work in the gym a pleasant experience. The right music can make a big difference in your body and mind. Get ready to pump it up!