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Music during workouts

Andy Roberts

Andy Roberts

Level 2 Valued Member
Certified Instructor
I know many have their favourite music for workouts. I like all kinds of music, classical, jazz, folk, bluegrass and have played all of these genres professionally in my 50+ years of upright bass playing.
However, to me exercise is like dance and if it is not synced to the beat of the music, it really bothers me. Rather than listen on headphones, I can internally recreate music, even entire symphonies in my head. I try to match this music appropriately to what I am doing.
 
Andy Roberts said:
However, to me exercise is like dance and if it is not synced to the beat of the music, it really bothers me.
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I've always noticed a huge boost in performance if/when I can do this. Running is the best example and one where a playlist with 180 bpm or so works great. My body finds a better flow when music is the guide. Road cycling never works because of all the external variables with terrain, elevation, wind, and other riders. But something regular like rowing or stairmaster or elliptical, also easy to do to music once you find the right bpm. I think that's why good spin classes are so popular! (Although, I always notice how some people are oblivious to the beat. And some instructors, too. Never could do those classes...)

On occasion I can make some music work with kettlebell or something else it's like extra wind on your wings when flying... or like a tailwind while cycling. Like magic. I've even noticed if I have music with a good beat and I practice something like barbell jerk dips on the beat, it works better. The body responds to music. Dance is the ultimate tension-relaxation activity -- controlled loosely by the brain, yet led and felt in the body. The more we can bring that element to our movement, the better off we are.

Even with slow grind strength movements like deadlifts or squats, a good aggressive heavy metal scream type music just makes it go better!
All that said, music can be distracting, so training in silence certainly has its strong points as well. (I had to add that because it's the StrongFirst party line and I'm a StrongFirst Team Leader... ;) ) Ultimately everyone should try traning both with and without music and see what works best for them. Not which they enjoy the most (unless enjoyment determines whether they train or not -- then, it should be considered!), but what gets them to have the highest quality and most productive training towards their training objectives.
 
Bill Lets said:
If prefer gym owners to not allow songs with the N word. Also MF this MF that. If find it very strange that there is a lack of decency at public places. There is no excuse. I go now.
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I am with you 100% as to what I prefer. That said, I recognize - don't like, but recognize - that language is used differently now than when I was younger.

-S-
 
My employer allows warehouse workers to listen to music, podcasts, etc... with one earbud in, under certain conditions. I could never do it. Likewise, I can't do it while working out, either. I'd rather be alone in my own head.
 
Yes, language is used differently than forty or fifty years ago but the meaning of the word didn’t change the people changed. To cut thru the argument of people showing how words do change I would say when Justice Stewart famously tried to explain "hard-core" pornography, or what is obscene, he said, "I know it when I see it”. If I pay money for a gym membership I don’t need sex acts crammed down my throat by some fool singing about it.
Bill Lets said:
If prefer gym owners to not allow songs with the N word. Also MF this MF that. If find it very strange that there is a lack of decency at public places. There is no excuse. I go now.
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Happy veterans month.
 
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