If you are on a journey to increase your personal athleticism, music can increase your performance. There is a science to this, and I’m going to fill you in on the best beats to increase your feats in building strength, by letting your body re-energize.
It is important to know, that although lyrics and strong beats can help encourage that workout, it is more the frequencies and rhythm that help muscle growth after intense training.
In a study on the effects of recovery from intense muscle conditioning, it was found that recovery can be increased by motivational, rhythmic music and even slow-tempo music.
What can it do for post training?
Music can reduce lactic acidosis after intense workouts. Lactic acidosis is what causes burning muscles, sharp bowel pains, and a slew of nauseating symptoms. This of course reduces your recovery and gains. Active recovery (like a light jog or walk) is a better method of reducing lactic acid levels. Although passive recovery (sitting in rest, relaxing the body) is still an effective method,
Your rated perceived exertion or RPE can be reduced with rhythmic music. This can make subsequent intervals or sets during intense exercise easier by reducing rapid heartbeat and fatigue.
So what makes an excellent playlist for recovery?
Although the music you choose can be something you like, it’s important to get the right rhythm and pulse to enhance your recovery. You’ll want to avoid complex beats and melody. Lyrics are okay but they need to be in a pattern and in a consistent rhyme.
The most important aspect is, you’re trying to put your body in a trance state. Even without music many athletes have reached this state. It feels good, you’re in the zone, relaxed but focused. Your body is almost vibrating. You’re almost like a statue in this state, your muscles feel like they break from a mold when you move.
So here are some sources of sound that will put you in the zone of recovery. Songs with a tempo of 70 to 90 bpm are the target.
Classical:
Even if classic music isn’t your thing, there are some songs that I believe anyone can listen to after a hard workout, and achieve a tranced mood, and recovering body.
- Moonlight sonata, by Beethoven
- Air, by Bach
- Trois Gymnopedies, by Erik Satie
- Clair de lune, by Claude Debussy
Dance, trance, and electronic:
To be honest, this is the best genre for the right sounds and frequency to amp up recovery. Simply looking up the electronic music scene will introduce you to what I believe is the best music for getting into the zone of recovery.
- Persuasion by AM Feat. Shawn Lee
- Oxygen Bar by Deep Divers
- Joakim Karud – Dreams
- Recreation by Leavv
- Silver Lining by Kupla x j’san
- Everlong by Moby
- Protection by Massive Attack
Pop, rock, hip-hop:
These genres tend to be lyric heavy, but that doesn’t mean they should be avoided, as they often have excellent positive rhythms:
- Bird Set Free by Sia
- Slow Country by Gorillaz
- Videotape by Radiohead
- Crazy Dream by Tom Misch
- Provider by Frank Ocean
- Forrest Gump by Frank Ocean
- Fallin’ by Alicia Keys
- Four Page Letter by Aaliyah
- When Doves Cry by Prince
- Madness by Muse
- Second Song by TV on the Radio
The most important thing to remember is that it’s all about the ability to get in the zone, and sync your body to the sound. These songs are great for doing just that.
