Benefits to Exercising to Music

Have you ever noticed you feel better and enjoy your workout more when you listen to music? It’s true, listening to music while exercising comes with many benefits. 

Music can increase our endurance. Music has a way of helping us push ourselves during exercise. Costas Karageorghis, Ph.D., specialist in sport & exercise psychology, has determined that music can significantly reduce the perception of effort and increase endurance by as much as 15%. Which means you’ll feel better while exercising and be able to push yourself harder. 

Listening to music can reduce stress and anxiety. A slow temp song, anything between 70-110 bpm during a yoga session will promote proper breathing and help relaxation. Instrumental songs can help you wind down and stay relaxed for the rest of the day. It’s also beneficial to listen to a slow tempo song for cool downs and stretches after a workout.

Music naturally boosts your happiness. Dopamine, the happy hormone, is released when you listen to music you love. When you add music to your workout, you’ll boost your dopamine and serotonin at the same time making you feel fantastic. 

Upbeat music can help you stay on pace. As a runner, listening to upbeat music will help you keep pace and improve your endurance. Music with a fast tempo, anything between 140-160 beats per minute, is optimal for running. When you can easily maintain a steady pace, you’ll reduce false steps and decrease energy exertion, making you a more efficient runner. 

Music can help take our minds off normal aches and pains. When listening to your favourite music, your workout will feel easier and more productive. Music also reduces our sense of fatigue so it’s easier to stick with the exercise. 

While exercising your ears are more sensitive during intense workouts and susceptible to damage. Remember to keep the volume in your earbuds limited so chatter around you can still be heard.

Looking to add music to your workout? Try these apps & devices:

1. Spotify Music App
2. Google Play Music
3. TomTom Spark Music Plus Cardio, a fitness watch that comes with 3G storage capacity to hold about 500 songs.