Exercising to the beat of music can help you get through your next workout. According to an article published in "The Sport Journal," submitted by researchers from Brunel University, music can reduce your perceived exertion during submaximal exercise, help you sync up your movements to the beat during repetitive exercise, help you acquire motor skills and achieve a positive mental state referred to as "flow." For many athletes or exercisers, these benefits often lead to improved performance or the ability to exercise for longer periods of time.
Build Your Playlist
Step 1
Choose a genre of music that you enjoy listening to.
Step 2
Analyze the type of exercise you regularly perform. Someone who practices yoga will probably want to listen to a different tempo of music than someone who runs or rows.
Step 3
Choose music within your preferred genre that has a beat similar to the tempo that you run, row or change between poses. Choose a couple of extra tracks at a slower beat for your warm-up and cool down.
Step 4
Include songs that have lyrics that refer to movement, exercise or overcoming adversity. The American Council on Exercise suggests songs like "Walk This Way" by Run-DMC or "The New Workout Plan" by Kanye West.
Step 5
Put together several playlists based on your exercise routines. Consider the length of your planned workout, the level of exertion you want to commit and the type of exercise you want to perform. You might want a shorter, more intense soundtrack and a longer, steadier option. Always start your playlist with a song to warm-up to and end it with a cool-down track.
Tips and Warnings
- If you want to exercise in intervals, choose one track that has a fast tempo followed by a track with a slow tempo. Continue alternating between the different tempos throughout the course of your workout. Similarly, if you want to gradually build up to a peak exertion level before slowing down, choose music where the tempo gradually builds up then falls. Make the music work for you.
- Listening to loud music while wearing headphones can cause hearing damage. Turn the music to a level you enjoy, but not so high that someone next to you can hear the music, too.
Things You'll Need
- MP3 player or stereo system
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