Move to the Beat

Spring Break may have come and gone and you haven’t quite reached your beach bod goals. Well let’s step outside, grab the Ipod and get moving. As the weather heats up, I am starting to see more and more people out running, playing with the kids, sitting on the porch, gardening, etc. We have been cooped inside for months and the sun is screaming for us to come enjoy the warmth. Once outside you realize, yuck I’m sweating (or maybe that’s just me). Well turn your music up a little louder and keep moving to the beat.

Or maybe you strongly dislike the gym and trying to find other physical activity alternatives. You understand the importance of being active but just can’t keep motivated. I have found that it is such a struggle to get to the gym. But once I’m outside or in the gym and I have my earphones in, I’m ready for action. Music can help make even the most dreaded exercises seem fun. I have to catch myself from singing the chorus aloud or bobbing my head uncontrollably to the beat.

Music can help motivate you to keep moving. You can find yourself jamming to the beat and before you realize it, you’ve been exercising for 30 minutes. Costas Karageorghis, a sports psychologist at Britain’s Brunel University, says there are four factors that contribute to a song's motivational qualities: rhythm response, musicality, cultural impact and association. Rhythm response and musicality relate to the actual music you are listening to. While cultural impact and association are dependent our musical preferences and how you respond to certain songs.

Nowadays you can purchase athletic shoes that automatically sync to your Ipod. If you can’t sync your Ipod and Nike shoes, you can add a workout playlist from Pandora or search for workout playlists. You have to find music that you love and focus on the tunes.

The options are endless so the excuses should be minimal. So make yourself a great workout playlist and just bust a move.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33418663/ns/health-fitness/t/why-music-makes-exercise-easier/#.T3PSB2GPWa8