Great lyrics are motivating.
For many people, music can make the difference between a great workout and no workout at all. And some songs stand the test of time for their power to motivate.
Remember this anyone - Rocky theme song - Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
You'll work harder.
Feel an extra pep in your step when your favourite tune comes on? There’s a reason for that: Music influences you to run farther, bike longer and swim faster – often without you even realising it.
Exercise becomes fun.
A killer playlist can transform your workout from mundane to something you actually look forward to.
Pain reduction.
While music isn’t a substitute for medication to manage chronic pain, it may distract you from normal aches or pains during exercise. Therefore, you’re more likely to push through and complete your workout.
You'll naturally feel boost happiness.
Music naturally boosts dopamine, the neurotransmitter that drives your brain’s reward system. Listening to music during a workout can give you a hit of dopamine – resulting in feelings of well-being. At the same time, exercise boosts serotonin (a mood-boosting neurotransmitter) so the combination will do wonders for your happy hormones.
Reduce stress and anxiety.
Listening to the right music during a stretch, warm down or even a yoga class (think slow tempo and soft or no lyrics) can help you wind down and carry the relaxing benefits with you through the rest of your day.
You'll improve as a runner.
Sync your run to an upbeat playlist and you’ll stay on pace and even improve your endurance. Songs with 140-160 bpm are optimal for running. Music can act as a metronome, therefore helping someone maintain a steady pace, reducing false steps and decreasing energy expenditure.
Time flies.
An hour-long workout can seem never-ending, but when you break it down by song it’s a lot easier to handle. Think about it this way: A 60-minute workout is really just 15 of your favourite songs (if each one is roughly 4 minutes in length). That’s basically one album!
You're also exercising your brain.
You’re giving your body a workout, so why not engage your brain at the same time? Musical activity involves nearly every region of the brain that we know about, and nearly every neural subsystem. Part of your brain decodes pitch and tempo while other parts are stimulated by lyrics.
