This week a group fitness particpant asked me, “Do you exercise to music?” My passion is music – since I study Opera and love all genres of music, I had to respond, “But of course!” On most occasions I workout to music, with minor exceptions such as hiking deep in the woods of Western Mass, or any other woods for that matter!
I elaborated further on that question and here is what I came up with. Do you prefer to workout to your favorite TV show or maybe cycle while you catch up reading the news? Or maybe you exercise outside and prefer the natural noise of your surroundings? Or maybe you like the quiet so you can hear your heart beating hard as you increase your exercise intensity? Or so you can exercise with a buddy and carry on good conversation?
I find that if I am in indoors I prefer to exercise to music because it helps vary my workout intensity and keep me motivated. Outdoors is another story – I like to hear all of the sounds in the environment. There are times when I like the welcome escape that a good song on my IPOD can provide.
