Audio Active: Understanding The Role Of Music In Exercise

There are very few creatures on Earth which are able to respond to a rhythm. Humans, other great apes, and even some birds are able to bop their head along with a tune, recognising the repeating patterns which make music. People have long been able to see the connection between movement and music, with some of the world’s most ancient civilisations relying on tunes to keep their armies moving. Of course, while you’re not planning to raise your own Roman legion, it can be very helpful to understand the way that music influences exercise, especially for those who provide classes or personal training sessions to others.

The Beat

When it comes to exercise, few elements of a song are more important than the beat which comes with it. There are a lot of theories as to why a repeating drum can help to keep you moving, though the strongest is that the music is reflecting your heartbeat. You can always hear your heart, though your brain filters out this sound. Having a strong beat at the right speed can give you more stamina, improve your form, and will make you happy. Up to around 140 BPM is usually plenty to get the juices flowing.

The Feeling

Human senses are very powerful things, and hearing the right sounds can have a huge impact on your mood. For example, listening to music with a high BPM will often make people feel pumped up and ready to get on with some exercise. This sort of feeling can be strong enough to push people to do longer workouts, and will often give you a reason to go to the gym which isn’t just about making yourself lose weight.

The Distraction

Exercise can often be a painful process, with many people deciding that they don’t like to go running or lift weights because it hurts them. Of course, though, it only takes a small distraction for this discomfort to slip to the back of your mind, and music is the perfect tool for the job. Everyone finds that different things will impact their ability to keep exercising, but most will see the positive impact of a distraction like this very quickly.

The Community

Consuming entertainment as a group is always a different experience to enjoying it on your own. The sense of community which is felt when you listen to a good song with people can be palpable, and this will make it much easier to enjoy yourself when you’re exercising with other people. You can find music for Yoga classes, sporting events, and a range of other exercises, and they will all help to bring your group closer together.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of bringing the right music to your exercise classes. Many people struggle to see the connection between sound and movement, but this has been an important part of human life for a long time, and there is no question that this method can work.