In the last of our blogs covering the Bagot Stack Principles we take a look at music and rhythm.
Many people love to pair music and exercise. But there are also scientific reasons why the two go together so well. Listening to certain melodies makes exercise feel easier and more pleasurable allowing you to work out harder than you would in silence.
Music is one of the key elements in teaching group exercise. It provides rhythm, pace and can stimulate and inspire.
Music captures our attention
How often have you heard an upbeat track and suddenly your feet are tapping? Music lifts our spirits, triggers emotions, alters and regulates mood.
Elevate your mood
Listening to music can improve your mood and promote enjoyment. Tempo and volume can also affect how you perform.
A good tune can motivate you to keep going through physical discomfort. So, choosing tunes you like best can enhance your performance and reduce perceived exertion. Did you know that motivational tracks can increase endurance by up to 15% during a workout?
The benefits of singing
Singing can potentially lower stress and make you feel happier. So singing in your exercise class is a win win. * It increases the feel good chemicals in your body such as oxytocin, dopamine and endorphins.
What’s so good about these chemicals?
- Oxytocin is sometimes called the ‘love hormone’, and increases the bond you feel with people.
- Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that is released to the brain. It’s why you feel a shiver down your spine when you listen to music you like!
- Endorphins are feelgood chemicals that account for feelings of pleasure
Improve coordination.
Listening to tunes you enjoy can increase the electrical activity in the regions of the brain that are responsible for coordinating movements. Researchers found that when a track possesses ‘high-groove’ qualities, the brain gets excited and the body moves. When the body is in sync with the music, people often experience a boost in self-confidence. Consequently, it creates a positive association with exercise and coordination.
Choosing the right music
There are so many different distinctive musical forms. Pop, jazz, hip hop, latin, country and western, easy listening, blues, ballads, soul, swing and classical are just a few. In a typical FLexercise class, teachers can play a whole variety of these genres.
Why not come and try one of our zoom classes? They are fun, friendly and we are bound to get your toes tapping!
- Sadly, due to Covid restrictions, we can’t encourage singing in class at the moment.