Should You Listen to Music While Working Out?

An inseparable part of your everyday life, music has been delighting your ears from the time you were born. But you might not realize all the undeniable powers and beneficial effects it has on your physical abilities. We’ll tell you all about how music impacts your athletic performance. So, should you turn up your FizzUp playlist and listen to music while working out?

MUSIC’S THERAPEUTIC QUALITIES

Music is the art of combining sound and silence over a period of time, both supported by a rhythm. Music has been a part of our society since prehistoric times, but it wasn’t until the 5th century BC that the Chinese discovered beneficial effects of music on the body. Every organ in your body has its own vibration, and has a positive response to sounds of the same frequency. That’s why music really does have an influence on your entire body, not just your auditory system.

MORE MUSIC, LESS STRESS

Music has a direct impact on your nervous system, helping you unwind and relax. According to Dr. Costas Karageorghis, “Music captures attention, raises spirits, triggers a range of emotions, alters or regulates mood, evokes memories (…) reduces inhibitions and encourages rhythmic movement (…)”.

What’s more, this researcher from Brunel University London has claimed in various studies that music has the ability to temper a bad mood and increase a good mood. In fact, it lowers cortisol levels, a hormone secreted by the cortex around the adrenal glands (located above the kidneys), which triggers stress. You can take advantage of natural antidepressants when you combine a regular workout routine, like the one FizzUp offers, with music that you enjoy, because exercise helps your body produce “happiness” hormones. Endorphins loosen you up so that you can look on the bright side of life.

MUSIC HELPS YOU FOCUS

Music therapy started in the United States and Canada. It brought to light music’s benefits for physical and mental health problems. It uses music as an effective way to relieve stress, boost creativity and enhance cognitive skills. In fact, music has the ability to improve your memory and attention because it’s claimed to be the perfect way to drown out surrounding sounds. This is how it helps you focus better, so take care of your health by listening to music.

SHOULD YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WORKING OUT?

Many scientific studies have shown that listening to music has a beneficial impact on athletic performance, motivation and pain experienced during exercise. The results are also better for experienced athletes than for professional athletes. So now’s the time to plug in your stereo or put in your earbuds and listen to music while working out. This will also get you get fit in time for summer.

MUSIC MAKES EXERCISE EASIER

According to a study conducted by the University of Southern Queensland and the Queensland Academy of Sport in Australia, along with Brunel University London under the direction of Dr. Karageorghis, listening to music leads to increased physical performance, especially when the exercises are synchronized with the rhythm of the music. Eleven high-level athletes had to run until they were exhausted, some while listening to motivational music, so-called “neutral music” or no music at all. Overall, the participants who were listening to music ran 18-19% longer than the ones who weren’t. The athletes who weren’t listening to music also had a higher heart rate, proving that music does indeed have an impact on your body’s response to exercise.

This goes to show that exercise reduces the feeling of pain and keeps your motivation at an all-time high. In another experiment, Japanese researchers studied a group of 16 women, ages 43 to 57, while they were exercising to show that music could have a positive effect on their movement coordination and their level of fatigue. The subjects said that they working out was easier while listening to music.

IMPROVED ATHLETIC SKILLS

The University of Nottingham published a study highlighting the impact of fast music on an athlete’s performance. During an intense workout, athletes were able to go longer while listening to fast music. Twenty-four candidates, both men and women, were subjected to a fitness test using cycling, along with workouts that included slow music, fast music, slow to fast music or fast to slow music. They had to progressively exert more and more energy until they were completely exhausted. The results clearly showed that the athletes were better able to respond to physical demands when they were listening to fast music, and had improved their performance. This means that the athletes were able to work harder with the same heart rate. According to researchers, athletes pay less attention to their level of fatigue due to exercise while listening to exercise. It’s easier to go beyond your limits when you listen to music while working out.

So what should you listen to during your FizzUp workout? These studies show that music has a positive impact on athletic performance, but also remember that your musical preferences play a key role in helping you choose the songs that will push you to your max. If you think classical music is more motivating than electro, then stick with what you like!

Get your heart vibrating to the sounds of the FizzUp, then head outside to enjoy a concert or two in the summer heat! Don’t forget to let us know what song gets you pumped and motivated to start your workout.

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