Music is one of the few activities that involve using the whole brain. It is intrinsic to all cultures and can have surprising benefits. From the introduction of aerobic dance in the early 70’s, it has generally been regarded that exercise with accompanying music provides an important beneficial effect to the exercise experience. Many health and fitness instructors regard the addition music to exercise similarly to an ergogenic aid, with the removal of music or an inappropriate selection of music as a sure bet to an unsuccessful class. The beneficial effect of using music in exercise context has a long history and as strong intuitive appeal. Music has the capacity to capture attention, lift spirits, generate emotion, change or regulate mood, evoke memories, increase work output, reduce inhibition, and encourage rhythmic movement. Music is an often untapped source of both motivation and inspiration for sport and exercise participants. However, an important point to remember is that musical preference is very personal indeed. Listening to music may influence cognitive function through different pathways in the brain. The combination of music and exercise may stimulate and increase cognitive arousal which helps to organise cognitive output. Therefore it can be use as a major catalyst for positive personal change and increased brain power when used in conjunction with exercise it makes easier to move, walk, dance, can make exercise feel more like recreation and less of work and helps in reduction in the feeling of fatigue, increase in levels of psychological arousal, physiological relaxation response, and improvement in motor coordination etc.
lift spirit, mood, rhythmic movement, motor coordination
