Following the playlist I posted, I wanted to share a recent paper I read by Dr. Mark Anshel, entitled Exercise and Music. In the paper, Dr. Anshel discussed how during exercise, music can influence our performance, effort, and motivation. Below are key points from his paper.
Music and Exercise:
- "There are two likely reasons moving in rhythm results in superior performance: the distraction hypothesis and momentum. The distraction hypothesis says that the performer is distracted by the external stimuli of music, which allows the person to ignore the effects of intense physical activity, such as fatigue and exertion. We use a strategy called external attentional focusing. The second explanation of improved momentum is that music improves our forward motion, resulting in less effort."
- "Music alters our nervous system: Heart rate can be increased within 10 seconds of listening to music that is fast-paced and loud, while our heart rate usually slows down when exposed to music that is slower-paced and relatively quiet. This is because hormones are released into the blood stream that immediately either increases or decreases our arousal level, such as heart rate, respiration rate, and other physiological processes."
- Guidelines for listening to music During Exercise:
- 1) Listen to music that you enjoy. If you choose something that is annoying or distasteful, it will only cause stress
- 2) Select music that is compatible with your goal. For example, if you are doing an aerobic workout, it is best to listen to something with an upbeat tempo. For pilates or yoga, use something that is of slower pace.
- 3) Try to use music that allows you to move in synchronization to the exercise being performed
View some screenshots of my usage.
