Want to be fitter? Add music to your workout regime

Research suggests that music can help your workouts and take it to the next level!

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: January 13, 2014 5:41 pm

Want to go further with your workout in the New Year? Then music could be the answer. Experts suggest that it can be a tremendous supplement to exercise and can yield better results. Also Read - Is your workout giving you a stiff neck? Do’s and don’t of exercise that might surprise you

Also Read - Is your workout killing you? What really happens to your body when you exercise too much

It is said that top athletes use music to enhance their performance and researchers are now studying this phenomenon to understand how to harness its power, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Also Read - The best exercises to do if you are feeling lazy

Costas Karageorghis, sports psychologist from Brunel University in London, suggests some tips on how to maximise the beneficial effects of music for your workout.

‘Our research demonstrates that music can be a tremendous supplement to exercise. For maximum impact, the tempo and rhythmic pattern need to be targeted towards your movement rate and activity pattern. Music can benefit exercise particularly at low-to-moderate intensities,’ said Karageorghis. (Read: Workout with a friend, reach your fitness goals faster!)

To get the best result in gym, the music should possess a pleasing melody and harmony, which improves your mood, typically is a major key. Music that promotes inspiring imagery or has strong personal associations can also be highly effective.

Different music work for particular types of exercise. Here is the list:

Weight training: Music that is fast, rhythmic, percussive or bass-driven is particularly good for psyching yourself up before a highly strenuous activity like lifting heavy weights.

Sprinting: You need faster music for when you are training at a high intensity.

Jogging, rowing, cycling: A playlist should ideally contour your expected heart rate during such workouts. If you are synchronising your movements with the music, the beats per minute need to match your intended movement rate, so it’s important to determine what this is likely to be and to select music accordingly.

Some rock songs to take your workout to the next level

1. Zinda (Artist: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Film: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

The song from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag will get you right in the mood for a killer workout. If you’re running short of motivation, the song will put you into killer mode and get you all pumped up, especially if you’re doing cardio or skipping. Also Farhan Akhtar’s extremely chiselled runner’s physique should definitely provide you with extra motivation.

2. Immigrant Song (Artists: Led Zepplin)

One of the classic heavy metal acts, the opening riffs of this song will motivate even the laziest of exercisers. Written by Led Zepplin after their tour of Iceland, the song gained prominence when it was used during the opening sequence of the Hollywood version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which showed an abstract concept of Lisabeth Salander struggling against the tyrannies of men. If this song doesn’t pump you up and make you angry, there’s something wrong with you.

3. Eye of the Tiger (Artist: Survivor, Film: Rocky III)

The cult classic of workout songs, the song was written specifically for Rocky III by the band Survivor. Legend has it that Sly wanted to use the Queens’ Another One Bites the Dust but he didn’t get permission for it. The training montage remains one of the most inspiring training montages of all time and the song never fails to pick you up when you need a boost. (Read: Top 10 rock songs to take your workout to the next level)

With inputs from IANS

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Published : January 13, 2014 5:21 pm | Updated:January 13, 2014 5:41 pm

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