My first lifting coach was a pull-no-punches kind of guy.
That’s something all my strength coaches have in common, not a single one of them made my strength journey out to be anything other than an equation. An equation that when executed means you are getting stronger. Two plus two equals four, after all.
There’s a lot that goes into the strength equation: lifting (of course), sleep, nutrition, stress management, community, and atmosphere. Normally community and atmosphere aren’t separated because the people and the place matter the same in my methodology and they go far beyond the gym. For this article however, I am pulling them apart because atmosphere is where one of the most important elements of fitness lives: music.
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Music can make or break a workout.
Ask any group fitness instructor or coach what their least favorite part is and they’ll tell you it’s the music. Because no one likes the same music, no one gets fired up to the same tempo. Music, in the gym and in life, is very personal.
So back to my first lifting coach; about two weeks into my first program I said to him “I’m bored.” To which he responded “you better get some good headphones, music and books you want to listen to; because lifting is boring.”
UGH! Well, fine. I jumped right into creating playlists on my ipod (yep, ipod. iPhone wasn’t even a thing yet!) that hit all of my favorites from Rock, Punk, EDM, Hip Hop, Alternative… generations and generations of playlists built to keep me entertained.
Athletes today don’t know how good they have it.
There are apps and algorithms serving you songs based on where you’re located, what your calendar says, and what you’re usually listening to at that time. You can set up playlists and tell the platform to shuffle and add songs for you based on the songs you want to hear more of right now. Not to mention, we now have podcasts and as it turns out, I do some of my best learning while lifting.
Nowadays, I lift in a gym that primarily offers group classes and open gym spots. Since I do most of my training in the open gym spots, often no one takes over the sound system and whoever is there is stuck in silence if they don’t have headphones. I can’t do that, so I take over the sound system when I can. (Also, can we be real? People who workout in silence are either psychopaths or really comfortable with their internal voice. So, either way, psychopath.) But when I can’t take over the sound systems, I still wear headphones to get and stay in my zone.
There’s more research on the power of music during a workout than one might expect.
There’s research on the influence of music on performance response that shows music can help you meet the moment in your workout. Because lifting to a song you love can cause changes in your psychological and physiological responses. The right song can literally help you achieve your goal. It can help you block out all the little voices, and zero in on the thing you need to do. For me, when it was time for a big lift, it is the hardest heaviest music I have on tap; usually something from the 90s or 00s. (Also, this is the coolest research ever, and I need to be part of it. Can we research how TOOL improves PRs over teeny-bopper shit? Yes, yes we can! Will it be unbiased research, probably not.)
THE GIFT! A Muscle Moments Playlist!
Since music is a moment for everyone, I’ve asked every Muscle Moments guest to tell me what their favorite workout song is. You won’t be surprised to find that it’s different for everyone. From Sophie Tucker to K-Ci & JoJo to Sade, Trivium, The Prodigy, and Prince; people’s music is as diverse as they are.
Step into their jams and ride the tunes that deliver an endless sense of power for every Muscle Moments guest here.
Will you like them all? Nope.
Will you find something you like? Most definitely.
Go build strength and create the life of your dreams using music as the backdrop for your own personal beauty.
To health and strength,
D
PS: This playlist will be updated with every Muscle Moments podcast that is published. Check back to get tunes you didn’t know you’d love for all your muscle building needs.