Normally we use music as a tool to fill the silence or escape from reality, also to camouflage the noises that surround us. Music has been accompanying the human being for centuries and of course, the fact of training was not going to be less. Today we are going to indicate the benefits of training with music and what music is best for each sport, although it depends on each one's taste.
Music is a means of transportation, a way of expressing what we feel, it is an art within the reach of very few, like poetry, painting or sculpture. Music is currently used to fill gaps, to express feelings, to escape from what torments us and to accompany us on our best days, encourage us to train and provide a soundtrack to our Instagram Stories.
Benefits of training with music
Experts indicate that training or practicing a sport and doing it accompanied by music helps to improve rhythm, resistance and reduce fatigue and exhaustion. We must take into account the environment that surrounds us, not abuse the volume and always be aware of everything around us. At the end we will give some important tips about headphones.
We are 15% more active
Music makes us move and be active. According to a study it favors physical activity by 15%, so from today we have to go for a run, train at home or go to the gym with music.
It has been proven that music distracts us, that is, if we immerse ourselves in our thoughts, we will not be able to disconnect and we will increase the stress and anxiety of that situation that currently has us blocked, so using music favors distraction and makes us feel more liberated, relaxed, free and happy.
Improves mood
Upbeat music along with energetic exercise creates a perfect combination that improves blood flow and improves mood, which is why when we finish the session we feel so energized and very happy. It is also due to the segregation of serotonin, which is the happiness hormone.
The normal thing is to have a playlist already created and that is that a good exercise routine and the right music are perfect for releasing stress, depression and anxiety, as well as other mental or eating disorders.
It should be said that, if we are going to use headphones, it is best to use only one ear and leave the other free. So we can hear the traffic, if someone overtakes us, if an emergency is happening around us, if a danger is approaching, etc.
In addition, it is convenient to alternate the headset, so as not to always tire the same ear, whether we are training in an open or closed space. For example, on the way we listen to music with the right ear and on the way back with the left.
Pop, rock and electronic
Throughout this section we are going to see which musical styles are best according to the sport that we are going to practice. Although, obviously, the style of each one comes into play here. Even if we say that the best is pop, if our style is electronic or metal, we don't have to force ourselves to listen to something that we don't like or that doesn't encourage us to continue training.
Cycling
Everything related to the bicycle, from cycling to BTM, tends to rely mainly on pop and rock songs, even improving the times of each lap or route. It is usually the same style that is used in skating sports such as skateboarding and the like.
We say again that each athlete enters here with their personal tastes, but we can try another musical style, in case we can improve our times, just as we could also try other routes. Everything can help us feel better at the end of training.
running and walking
To go for a run or run on a treadmill, music with lively rhythms such as the most current pop and rock, as well as some electronic music, usually works very well. They tend to help improve rhythm, overcome muscle fatigue and make us go faster in less time.
The music, in this sport, is preferable to be happy and motivated, instead of being slow pop or sad songs, since the latter will decrease our strength, and lower our rhythm and resistance. However, if we are encouraged, we will endure more.
When walking, you have to take into account different factors. Walking to visit someone is not the same as walking to disconnect than walking as a sporting activity. The 3 have different rhythms and we will be the ones who choose the music.
Swimming
Unlike the previous sports, for swimming, some relaxing music is preferable that allows us to maintain a rhythm without becoming overwhelmed or wanting to compete with ourselves. Some songs that make us feel comfortable and enjoy swimming.
In this case, certain exceptions are usually allowed, such as using songs with low or sad rhythms, and even classical music, as well as electronic songs, but without having high and accelerated rhythms. It already depends on the type of training we do underwater. Of course, the volume should be lower than when we only use a headset, and it is better to use headphones that also serve to prevent the entry of water.
Fitness
For weight training and fitness in general, the best is highly motivated music with fast rhythms that help us maintain the intensity of the training, but without injuring ourselves due to overstimulation or excessive motivation.
Here even reggaeton, electronics, happy pop and the hardest rock could come in. It depends exactly on the type of training we do, since the day it touches legs, we will need a plus of motivation and we can find that in music. If it is about training the upper body, we can slow down the music and look for something more generic.