Music and Movement - A Motivational Pairing
August 9, 2010
Music and Movement- A Motivational Pairing
© www.FitTraining.net
By Linda T. Gottlieb, MA, CPT, CET
I love listening to music, do you? Since my early career as a group exercise instructor, I knew that if my participants liked the music (if it was “hum worthy”) with a terrific, peppy beat, people responded with increased energy and enthusiasm for exercise.
Now, new research is beginning to show that music can boost athletic performance. Listening to music you select specifically for your activity can result in greater improvements in motivation, adherence and enjoyment. Some studies indicate that listening to music during exercise can improve motor performance and increase aerobic endurance.
It is said that we are all inherently musical and respond to music as a form of communication even before we learn a language. The first sound we experience is our mother’s heartbeat in the womb. Expectant parents often sing to their unborn child. Don’t discount the power of music and rhythm to help you move your body and calm your mind. Many exercisers have particular pieces of music as part of their workout, do you?
It has been revealed that slower, sedative music decreases a person's muscular fitness potential. The majority of studies suggest that upbeat music may significantly increase respiration rate and moderately elevate heart rate, preparing you for the anticipated workout or the shift to higher intensity portions of your routine.
As a fitness professional, I am attuned to the background music playing as my client’s workout. I often discuss the choices of their playlists to include music with fewer beats per minute (bpm) to warm up and cool down, when to include faster paced music (during interval or higher intensity segments) and how to use music for stress relief (during meditation and for controlled breathing).
Think about the music of your life and how it may have changed along the way, depending on your experiences. Remember how old songs jump you right back to the high school dance? Selecting the right music for your current activities can help you move your body and calm your mind. Tune in and enjoy!
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