Did you know that listening to music during a workout plays an important role in your fitness success? All things musical have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Before universities began offering Music Therapy as a course of study, I knew the power of pairing music with fitness. Not only is it an important motivator for exercise, but it’s also important for our well being.
This month, the 2013 Broadway Tony awards session is underway. New York City audiences celebrate the best of the best in theatre. Each year when I go home to NYC, I can’t resist seeing as many Broadway shows as possible.
Ever since I was seven years old, anything Broadway became a part of my soul. My memories are associated not only with the music itself, but also with the circumstances surrounding the musical experience.
Studies tell us that music improves brain function.
Can you remember the first Broadway show you saw? What about the song you heard when you got your first kiss, or had the father-daughter dance at your wedding? Listening to music can stimulate memory fragments wired into your brain that wouldn’t be activated otherwise.
For someone with Alzheimer’s, music allows direct recall of memories that are impaired. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease have damage to the part of the brain that organizes thoughts and movements; similarly, music with a strong, rhythmic beat can stimulate motor control, movement, and coordination. Studies show that gait training done to music improves walking speed and coordination.
What are your sweet memories when you listen to your favorite songs from the radio, an old movie, or a Broadway soundtrack? What mind-body connection do you experience?
If you are ready to begin a musical fitness journey that will uplift your spirit, improve your memory, and make you feel years younger, then contact us using the email form, or call us today at: 818-620-1442. A professional trainer from Lori Michiel Fitness is ready to help you live more fully!