Better Workouts with Music and Your MP3 Player

Think back to a concert, a time at home or in the car when song come over the speakers that gave you chills, gave you a sense of pride, calmed you down or made you excited. There is no doubt that music can be a powerful source of emotion, motivation and inspiration.

These days, more and more professional athletes are turning to music to enhance their training, find inspiration and tune into a mindset for peak performance during competition. It's not uncommon to see Olympians, tennis players and others listening to their MP3 players before competition and between matches or games.

Haile Gebreselassie, of Ethiopia, set a world record for the indoor 2,000 meters as his favorite song played in the background at Birmingham Indoor Arena. He later stated that the song gave him a rhythm that set the pace needed to break the old record.

Equally impressive—Barry Cowen, the British tennis player, overcame superstar Pete Sampras at Wimbleton 2001. Between sets, he was seen listening to his MP3 player and later partly attributed his astonishing performance to the inspirational music.
You don't have to be a professional athlete to benefit from the positive effects of music. All you need is the right equipment and the right tunes.

The Equipment

Flash MP3 players have grown in popularity with athletes due to their small size, light weight and skip-free playback. Flash players vary in style and price. There are even waterproof players and headphones for swimmers. Consider a number of players before purchasing one that fits your needs. See TopTenREVIEWS side by side comparison of flash MP3 players.

Manufacturers provide a number of accessories to accommodate exercise enthusiasts. Armbands and belt clips will secure your MP3 player while walking, running, doing aerobics or even swimming. Look for a band that will hold the device out of the way so it won't interfere with your workout. Additionally, sport headphones are a good option. They come with ear clips so they don't fall out during workouts.

The Tunes

Generally, there are three parts to a workout: the warm-up, the hard part and the cool down. You can create a custom playlist that matches the different parts of your workout. During the warm-up you'll want an inspirational song that encourages positive self talk. Your warm-up music should not be as fast paced as the music you listen to during your workout; it should reflect your body and movement and gradually intensify—something like Rocky's “Eye of the Tiger.”

The hard part—hopefully you will find that through music “the hard part” of your workout isn't so hard, or boring. Some researchers suggest the beat or rhythm of the music is the most important aspect. Like Haile, your music should match the rhythm of your cadence. So, if you're running at 120 strides per minute, the music should have 120 beats per minute. You can modify this and take one stride for every two beats and vice versa. This is also effective for cyclists, swimmers and those who enjoy aerobics.

The cool down should be gradual, slower and happy. Some athletes enjoy Reggae or R&B during the cool down. Whatever your preference, it should be something that helps you relax and feel good about what you've accomplished.

You can purchase CDs with playlists that have already been compiled and edited for almost any type of exercise you enjoy, from yoga and tai chi to spinning and running; or, develop your own.  See TopTenREVIEWS Music Download Service review to find a service to fit your taste and device.

You'll find new inspiration and motivation and the time and miles will fly by as you add music to your exercise.

Works Cited

About, Inc., A part of. (2006). Can Music Inspire Your Training? . from http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportspsychology/a/061305.htm
(n.d.). Ergogenic aids. from http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0951.htm
(n.d.). Tried Position: 4059, Tried Position: 4118, Tried Position: 4268, Tried Position: 4295, . from http://www.nike.com/nikeplus/?promoID=uspl_ad_052306_google#powersongs