Let The Music Move You
When I hear a fun, up-tempo song like “Pump It” by The Black Eyed Peas, I can’t help but start moving. I don’t break out in dance (at least not every time), but I pick up my step, or if I’m working out, I kick up the intensity. It’s kind of like tapping your foot or snapping your fingers when a favorite song comes on the radio; it’s automatic and even a reflex. That response is why music is such an awesome exercise tool.
Scientists have discovered that our brains react to music with a boost in electrical activity in the areas that coordinate movement. The rhythm literally tells our brain to get moving, and more than just a little toe tapping. This physiological reaction has some very positive effects on exercising:
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Music Stimulates
We naturally fall in time to the beat, so if you’re working out to a fast-paced song, you’ll speed up your moves. A playlist of both fast and mellow songs is great for interval training. When the song changes, that’s your cue to change your intensity level.
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Music Motivates
Researchers believe music helps people exercise harder and longer by intercepting thoughts about how much effort an exercise requires or how tired we are. When these messages can’t be heard over the melody, we exercise longer.
So crank up your favorite tracks and get moving. Also, check out my Calorie Burning Workout playlist on Spotify if you’re searching for song suggestions:
What are your favorite songs to exercise to? Tell me in the comments below!
Here's to your health!
Kathy
I have transferred all my Kathy Smith audio workouts onto my phone so I walk to those. The hour long workouts are just enough exercise for me. I've been doing these workouts for years and I'm still not tired of them! Thank you, Kathy!
My "theme song" is Run Away Train by Soul Asylum. An oldie but it motivates me and gets me going. Kathy's programs are the best.
Like Barbara, I have all your workouts on my iTouch and I have a playlist of Walking Music that has 193 songs dating back to the 70s and up to today. I love Kelly Clarkson, JLo, Pink,Rhianna, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Usher, Prince, Black Eyed Peas, Donna Summers, Earth Wind and Fire, Tina Turner, Robert Palmer and the list goes on and on and this summer promises to be another bang up year for music with New Kids On The Block and Remix already added in with Pink, more Kelly.
The song Cotton Eye Joe gets me walking faster on the treadmill
Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti, Eye of the Tiger -Survivor, Burning Heart – Survivor, No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper, Living In America – James Brown, Heart's On Fire – John Cafferty, Going The Distance – Bill Conti, Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner – Warren Zevon, Don't Pay The Ferryman – Chris De Burgh