Creating the Perfect Workout Playlist
March 16, 2018
Tim McLaughlin – Marketing Intern and Montview Student Union: Member Services
As someone who personally uses music with my workout routine, I believe there are many ways to integrate music into a workout. LaHaye Recreation and Fitness Center’s group exercise instructors use music with their cardio dance classes to help achieve a certain level of intensity. These classes boost participants’ energy levels and help them train better.
It’s no surprise that humans like to move to music, but how can you integrate this into your personal workout routine effectively?
Well for starters, when I go running, I generally play music that has a beat that I can clearly hear, and I try to match it with my steps. Every song that has ever been recorded has something called “beats per minute” or BPMs. This is the rate at which the song plays, which you can actually mirror in your workout.
One easy way to do this is by finding your strides per minute. It may sound complicated but its very simple and can be done very quickly. All you have to do is run for a minute, and in that minute you count how many steps you take (at a comfortable rate). Do this several times to get a reasonable average.
After you find your strides per minute, locate songs with the identical beats per minute. So if your stride is 120 steps per minute, then find songs that are 120 beats per minute.
Aside from running, there are other ways to integrate music into your routine. Using music with strong, uplifting melodies and inspirational lyrics will boost your spirits and may even boost your workout. Your choice of music should match your routine, beginning with the same intensity that you begin your workout with, and ending the same way.
One easy way to effectively structure your workout is to integrate songs that will match your momentum. If you begin with H.I.I.T. training, you might want to find songs that are upbeat in tempo, and have a strong bass line. If you begin your workout routine by stretching, find music that will mentally prepare you for the progression of energy you will need throughout your workout. Many people miss this, and instead find that their music seems to be too much or too little for their workout. Doing this will also maximize energy level signals sent to the brain, pushing you to work harder and stronger.
I recently read that listening to music while you work out can boost your mood and make your workout seem easier. According to one study, a good workout playlist may even help motivate moderate gym-goers to workout harder. Essentially, music has the potential to push you harder than you’ve ever gone before. By simply pressing play on your phone, your workout can immediately intensify.
Seems like a no brainer to me.