How does Exercising to music help us?
Discover the power of music in boosting your workout performance! Learn how listening to music enhances motivation, distracts from fatigue, and amplifies enjoyment, leading to more effective and enjoyable exercise sessions.
There are numerous benefits to this type of exercise, including:
- Improved Mood: Exercising to music can help boost your mood, relieve stress, and reduce anxiety. The rhythm and beats of music can stimulate the release of endorphins, the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain.
- Increased Motivation: Music can provide a source of motivation and encouragement to help you push through tough workouts. It can help you stay focused, energized, and motivated, leading to better performance and results.
- Better Focus: Exercise is a great way to improve focus and concentration. Adding music to your workout can enhance this effect by providing a distraction-free environment, allowing you to tune out the world and focus on your fitness goals.
- Better Performance: Studies have shown that exercising to music can improve performance by up to 15 percent. This is because the rhythm of music can help regulate breathing, increase heart rate, and improve overall endurance.
- Increased Endurance: Exercising to music can help increase endurance by providing a constant source of motivation and distraction from fatigue. This can allow you to push harder and work out longer, leading to better results.
- Time Management: Music can help you better manage your time during workouts, providing a mental and physical structure to follow. This can help you stay on track and make the most of your exercise time.
- Fun: Exercising to music is simply more enjoyable. It provides a fun, engaging way to stay active, helping to keep you motivated and on track with your fitness goals.
What does the research say?
Here are some of the best peer reviewed studies to support the claims that music does in fact, help with exercise.
- Terry, P. C., Karageorghis, C. I., & Saha, A. M. (2012). Effects of synchronous music on treadmill running among elite triathletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 15(1), 52-57.
- Hutchinson, J. C., Karageorghis, C. I., & Jones, L. (2015). Exploring the effects of pre-task music on endurance performance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 18, 44-49.
- Nakamura, P. M., Pereira, G., Papini, C. B., & Nakamura, F. Y. (2010). Effects of preferred and nonpreferred music on continuous cycling exercise performance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 110(1), 257-264.
- Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44-66.
- Hutchinson, J. C., Karageorghis, C. I., & Jones, L. (2013). Psychological state and mood effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise performed at moderate intensity in a naturalistic outdoor environment. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(2), 249-259.
These studies provide insights into the effects of music on various aspects of exercise performance, motivation, enjoyment, and mood. Please note that these are just a few examples, and there is a wealth of research available on this topic.
What the celebrities and sportsman say?
If the science isn’t enough how about some well known celebrities, singers, boxers and an olympian
- Ellie Goulding, the British singer-songwriter, is known for her passion for fitness and has mentioned in interviews that she relies on music to enhance her workouts.
- Anthony Joshua, the professional boxer and former heavyweight champion, has spoken about the role of music in his training sessions. He has shared playlists and mentioned that music helps him get into the right mindset for his workouts.
- Joe Wicks, also known as “The Body Coach,” is a fitness coach, author, and television presenter. He often shares workout videos on social media, and music is an integral part of his fitness routines.
- Greg Rutherford, the retired Olympic long jumper from the UK, has mentioned that he listens to music to get pumped up before his competitions and during training sessions.
- Dua Lipa, the British singer-songwriter, has revealed in interviews that she enjoys listening to music while working out to keep herself motivated and energised.
In conclusion, exercising to music has many benefits, both physical and mental. It can improve mood, increase motivation and focus, enhance performance, increase endurance, and provide a fun way to stay active.