Music= Better Workouts

Posted: Dec 10 2014

How many of you can agree the playlist you listen to can either make or break your workout? Listening to music during a workout can actually enhance your overall performance. Most of us find it pretty difficult to get through moderate-intensity workouts without blasting music through our ears… However, if you’re one of those people who can, tell us your secret! Research has proven many times over that listening to music distracts the body from its awareness (i.e. pain).
According to a study in the Medicine in Science and Sports Exercise journal, a great playlist can help us get through hardcore interval training. This is much harder than elliptical training and delivers amazing results. The study showed that cyclists listening to faster music compared to those listening to slower music proved to work harder during their overall workout. Not surprising, there is a limit: Songs between 120 and 140 beats per minute seemed to have maximum effect. Upbeat music has more information for our brains to process, which simulates our minds to do less thinking and more listening.

Music can also help you get in the “zone.” Let’s be honest, sometimes there is just days where we really don’t want to get out of bed and workout or it’s been a long day at work and you just want to go home. If you feel this way put your workout playlist on while heading to your training destination. Science has proven that you will automatically be in a positive, exercise mood. Why? Because we associate music with memories, and our memory associates our workout playlist with the great feeling we have after we have crushed a session. Music is extremely uplifting!

So, set up a playlist with all your favorite upbeat songs. Get ready, work hard, and push your body to the limit. Your music will be there with you every step of the way. Here are five popular workout songs to have on your playlist to help get you started:

1.Till I Collapse: Eminem Ft Nate Dogg
2. Thunderstruck- AC/DC
3. Firework: Katy Perry
4. Mama Said Knock You Out- LL Cool J
5. Levels- Avicii

By: Holly Kravetz