The correlation between music and exercise is a long-standing phenomenon. People have integrated their preferred tunes into their workout routines for an extensive period of time. What is particularly noteworthy, however, is the incredible impact that music can have in optimizing physical fitness sessions.
According to Ronny Ho, the force behind Spotify’s Beast Mode playlist, music possesses the ability to postpone fatigue, influence mood, cognition, and emotions, and create the illusion of a less challenging workout, all without any adverse effects. In fact, three out of every four gym attendees in the UK opt to enrich their exercise regimens with music, deeming it a legal performance-enhancing substance.
Spotify’s Beast Mode, curated by Ho, stands as one of the most sought-after workout playlists, boasting five million monthly users. The playlist is intricately designed to deliver high-energy tracks for individuals seeking to engage in weightlifting and push their physical limits. Ho, who is also a fitness enthusiast, ensures that the tracks within the playlist ignite her own motivation.
Ho employs a fusion of human and technological input through her “personalized” curation. While Spotify’s algorithmic methods contribute to the playlist’s popularity, Ho’s editorial discretion plays a critical role in maintaining the playlist’s superior quality.
Professor Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University London, a leading authority on the impact of music on athletic performance, advocates for personalization as the future of music and fitness. His research centres on the integration of music and technology to enhance exercise enjoyment, modulate brain activity during workouts, and examine the influence of music on high-intensity exercise.
Antony Stewart, the digital fitness director for Johnson Digital, has elevated the concept of personalized curation with the BeatFit app. This app leverages “music differentiation” to align music with various stages of a workout, allowing individuals to exert more effort without conscious awareness.
Stewart asserts that tailored music playlists have the potential to heighten the enjoyment of workouts, particularly for individuals who do not inherently relish physical activity. Music has the capacity to create a sense of disconnection, redirecting individuals from physical strain and enabling them to be fully engrossed in the present moment.
In summary, the fusion of music and technology holds promise in revolutionizing the fitness sector. From individualized gym playlists to apps that customize music based on distinct workout phases, the future of exercise may be considerably more harmonious with the influence of music.