The Power of Rap: Boosting Gym Workout Performance

Abstract

Different types of music in the Gym Research Question: How rap genre improves performance on the gym workouts duration? Introduction Physical exercises prove essential in enhancing good health. Gym is among the major areas where people take their physical exercises using weights, machines and other equipments that enhance body fitness. However, as much as gym sessions stimulates various brain chemicals that leaves the exerciser more relaxed, happier and less anxious, the session may prove boring. Music proves a potential power in fighting boredom thus very essential in a gymnasium room. However different genres impact the physical exercisers differently thus the need to understand what music works best on an individual-level gym workout performance. This experimental research examined the correlation between music and gym workout performances. The study analyzed the effect of rock, pop and rap music genre on gym workout performances. The study hypothesized that different music genre have different effects on the overall gym workout. After 30 day workout with consistent recording of the performance effect, the study concluded that rap genre enhances relaxation and motivates the exerciser to engage in more workouts. The study further considered various literature reviews from other scholars on the subject to confirm or refute the current study’s hypothesis. Lovers of physical exercises especially ones facilitated through gym understand that gym workouts are really addictive. Though one can engage in physical exercise during any preferred time, gym workouts work best for many during morning hours or evening hours when the temperatures are relatively cool. However, it is imperative to note that any form of physical exercise especially gym-related demands strengths and total devotion as tiring and challenging to some extent. To this effect, though of relevance in general physical fitness of body and mind, the process might become boring leading to burnouts along the way. For this reason, music becomes an important part during the workout sessions as helps divert the challenging pressures of the workout to a motivating tune of the genre. Music by nature serves as a great soother to many. While on earphones during gym workout, the exerciser little concentrates on the challenging elements of the workout. On the contrary, the music takes over the attention of the exerciser, increases their stamina through generation of good mood which in return improves the quality of the workout. However, it is imperative to analyze the nature of a genre to understand which music best suit in gym workout based on an individual taste. According to Thakare et al. (2-3), music triggers a range of emotions in humans like it regulates mood, captures attention, induces states of higher functioning and encourages rhythmic movements which defines its relevance in a gym session. Based on their study on effect of music tempo on exercise performance among 25 male and 25 female young adults, these authors noted that exercise duration of the entire group with music was significantly greater that exercise duration without music. To this effect, their study concluded that music improves workout duration on both sexes thus the need for its inclusion during gym workouts which confirms the current study hypothesis. Though Thakare et al. (2-5) study did not specify the type of music that the sample participants listened to during their workout; it is open that they reported a positive effect on their workout durations attributed to the positive mood that the music gave the exercisers. Music enhances concentration which is fundamental in any physical exercise. Concentration allows a person to pay attention on the issue at hand which improves performance greatly. In gym workouts, concentration not only improves understanding of the demands of the workout but also improves overall performance attributed to accuracy of the exercise and its benefit on the body. Incorporating music in a gym workout unconsciously allows the exerciser to pay attention on the exercise while the music takes away the exercisers negative vibes towards the workouts based on its demands that might be challenging. According to Ballmann (2), listening to music during exercise positively impacts psychological and psycho-physiological changes within a body which enhances positive responses during an exercise challenge. Interestingly, these authors confirms that regardless of whether one enjoys or does not enjoy the type of music the exerciser listens to during workout, the effect remains positive on workout duration and activeness in the long run. In their study on the effects of music in exercise and sports, Terry et al. (2-4) argues that music exert positive effects on physical activity ranging from psychological, physiological and psycho-physical responses which greatly improve workout performances. These authors confirms that though music has no significant benefit on heart rate which is of consideration during any form of exercise, it improves...