So, you’ve managed to run halfway through your 10km before you start feeling that debilitating burn in your legs and lungs. It feels like you just can’t go on, and just as you’re about to throw in the towel… Eye of the Tiger starts blaring in your headphones and – just like that – you find the energy to push through the pain until you reach the end!
Whether you’re working out at the gym, heading out for a road run or settling in for an intense yoga session, music has a significant impact in helping you achieve the specific results you’re after. Here are just a few reasons why listening to your favourite tunes during exercise can help enhance your fitness efforts.
Get in the zone
Music has the power to help you block out the noise and stress around you, allowing you to give all your attention and focus to your workout. Research suggests that listening to a song on repeat or shortening your playlist to include just a few of your favourite songs, can help boost your concentration and help you focus more. This is particularly useful during exercise when you need to focus on maintaining good form for each rep of exercise you do.
If you’re really trying to get lost in the moment without any interruptions, the Jaybird RUN True Wireless Sports Headphones offer up to 12 hours of playback time before needing to be charged again. On the other hand, if you prefer to be more in tune with your surroundings but still want to have music to listen to while working out, you can always just use one of the wireless buds in one ear instead of both.
Harder, better, faster, stronger
A 2012 study on the effects of music on exercise efficiency found that participants who cycled while listening to music used as much as seven percent less oxygen than cyclists who did the same amount of work and did not synchronise their workouts with the aid of background music. In other words, listening to music is proven to help you exert energy more efficiently because the body is able to make fewer movements and adjustments when working out in time to a rhythm and beat.
Similarly, listening to high-tempo music might actually encourage you to work harder, according to research. Songs in the range of 120 and 140 beats per minute (bpm) are likely to yield the best results for people engaging in a moderate level of exercise.
Pace yourself
How do you know when you’re over-exerting yourself during a fitness routine, or, for that matter, not working hard enough? If you don’t have a fitness expert or nifty fitness device on hand to guide your every move, it can be tricky figuring out why you aren’t getting the results you’re after.
Workout music provides a rhythm that makes it easy to make sure you’re maintaining a good pace and not running before you can walk, so to speak. By working out in time to the beat of the music in your ears, you’re far more likely to maintain a constant pace throughout your workout, instead of tiring yourself out early on and possibly even causing yourself injury.
Find your happy place
There’s no denying that music has the power to put the spring back in your step. In fact, studies have shown that music is often used as a remedy to fix everything from a bad day to a broken heart, where participants said that music served as an escape from their troubles and elevated their moods. So, if you’re feeling a little down in the dumps, grab your Jaybird Wireless Headphones, which were designed by runners for runners, and hit the gym for a feel-good glow in no time! At the very least, thanks to their secure and comfortable fit as well as its sweatproof quality, they won’t keep falling out of your ears every time you move!
Make workouts fun again
Apart from all the scientific evidence that points to the positive impact music can have on fitness, having your favourite tunes to motivate you and keep you company while exercising is a great way to change how you look at working out. While some people may be more inclined to see daily trips to the gym as a chore, others look forward to working out all day long – using music to accompany your workouts is a great way to become one of those people who simply love working out.
No matter what level of fitness you’re on, or which type of workout you prefer, adding music to the equation is bound to enhance your performance and overall workout experience.
The Jaybird RUN True Wireless Sports Headphones will be available from Takealot.com, as of 1 April 2018. For more information visit www.jaybirdsport.com. Download the Jaybird MySound app from iTunes and Google Play online stores for free, and run your own listening experience the way you like it.
Author: Tanja Schmitz
Founder and Editor of Fitness Magazine. You’ll find her behind her computer or on her bike, dreaming up new ways to improve or create content for you.
