“Get out your headband, legwarmers, leotards, music; and lets exercise. Ok, maybe the days of neon littered aerobic videos are over, but the true practice is stronger than ever. Does music actually have an affect on an individual physical performance? Can it actually function on a biological level? Well, dust off the headphones, because music, simply works.

1. Respiration and Heart Rate: Research has shown that the intensity of music can dictate an individual’s heart rate or respiration levels. Simply put, if an individual is listening to harder music; the heart rate rises, along with the respiration. However, if the individual is listening to lighter music; the heart rate will decrease, along with the respiration. This discovery is has prompted fitness teachers to play music with intensity before rigorous workouts, in order to subconsciously speed up the heart rate.

2. Physical Strength: Do not lift to Tschakovsky. It may resonate as a beautiful moment in time, but research has shown that sedative music actually decreases an individual’s muscular fitness potential training ability. Although each person is different, light music does aid in a workout, better than silence.

3. Rehabilitation: For years, scientists and doctors have worked to aid the physically and mentally challenged through a rehabilitation process. Recent studies have shown that music can actually speed this process along. The actual music can advocate the enhancement of a person’s gait and motor skills. The individuals increase the stability and mobility of the clients, through the stimulation of the neuro-muscular system

4. Endurance Performance: Although several studied have been conducted, researchers can still not explin the physiological effect music has on an exercise performance. One of the main theories, is that “music can improve a person’s enjoyment and compliance to a fitness program, therefore ensuring long-term benefits, such as enhanced quality of life and reduction of risk to coronary heart disease and other causes of death.”

5. Fundamental Motor Skills: Recent studies have shown the advantage of playing music for children in elementary physical education classes. For children, music enhances the experience of exercise and actually motivates them to be more active.

6. Aerobic Fitness: Although the days of cheesy Jane Fonda videos are over, the idea behind them is getting stronger. Music, depending on preference of course, can completely enhance the aerobic workout. The presence of music does not only apply a sense of motivation, but it also instills an external stimulus.