The 6 benefits of listening to music while working out

By Jessah Robinson, Nutrition Consultant

While the concept of listening to music while you exercise isn’t exactly a new phenomenon, perhaps you’re not aware of how your cardio playlist actually improves your workout.

Here are 6 reasons to pump up those tunes during your next workout session

1. Provides the right kind of distraction
Research has discovered that not only does music provide a welcome distraction, but it is also a good way of making participants less aware of their exertion. This kind of distraction can benefit athletic performance by up to 15 percent.

2. Boosts your efforts
A 2010 study found that cyclists actually worked harder when listening to faster music compared to music with a slower tempo. According to WebMD: Upbeat tunes have more information for our brains to process, which more efficiently keeps our minds off our exhaustion.

3. Gets you focused
Everyone has that go-to song that always gets you focused and “in the zone”. The science behind this explains that we associate certain songs with memories, often relating to the context when we first heard them. By channelling that memory, we boost the motivational power of the song and boost our physical performance.

4. Helps to maintain rhythm
The timing of your workout music can stimulate the motor area of the brain as to when to move, thereby aiding self-paced exercises such as running or weight lifting. By honing into these rhythm signals it will allow us to better use our energy and maintain a steady pace, making for a more effective workout.

5. Can improve your mood
An August 2013 analysis found that people often listened to music as a way to change their mood and find self-awareness. Music can be used to power you through your workout, and you know you will feel that endorphin rush after you finish. Tyrosine is an amino acid that stimulates the neurotransmitters involved in motivation, satisfaction, and a happy stable mood.

6. Enables you to feel motivated
Researchers found that when music possesses high-groove qualities, the brain gets excited and movement is induced in the listener. So, no matter how much you’re dreading your workout, the right kind of playlist will make you want to move.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your motivational playlist today and reap the benefits. You may benefit from taking magnesium, a powerful mineral that may help to ease muscle spasms and cramps, and is required for a healthy nervous system and healthy muscles.

References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3741536/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23660433

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