This has become a big topic in the last few years with the large amount of people who now have the ability to listen to music on their smartphones or mp3 players while exercising. Here are some of the pros and cons we feel come with listening to music while exercising.
Pros:
- Music stimulates and motivates you to push harder
- Music can help to tune out distractions around you (noise at the gym/kids screaming)
- Music can help to put you in a positive mood and make you feel better about exercising
- Music helps to facilitate better relaxation of your mind and allow for you to feel less strain on your body
The benefits of listening to music while you exercise only exist when you use it effectively and intelligently. It should not be a blinder that shields your senses from reality.
Cons:
- Music can distract you and take away from important parts of your workout. (Form and technique)
- Music can lock you into a certain tempo or pace and throw off your bodies response time
- Music can be dangerous because it can limit your ability to hear what’s going on around you
- Music can make you push your body beyond what you normally are used to and thus result in injury
Do not play music loudly when exercising outside or in high traffic areas where you need to hear what is going on around you. Exercising (bike riding) with headphones in both ears can be illegal in certain states and will result in a ticket.





