Music and Mind: Why They Matter to Us
One of the things that sets our indoor cycling classes apart is our emphasis on mind, music, and movement as a single entity. Classes at Mcycle are not just spinning classes intended to keep you moving in a social environment. They are carefully crafted to take advantage of how music affects the mind and how both, when combined, affect movement.
Indoor cycling makes for great cardio exercise even when music is not involved. However, we believe in the power of music to enhance the benefits of exercise. That is why we offer 45-minute indoor cycling classes designed to take your mind off of everything else. One of the ways we help clients reach exercise nirvana is through the music we play.
The Brain Responds to Music
Scientists suspected that the brain responds to music in certain ways long before there was research data to prove it. Now that we have the data, it is no longer a question. According to University of Central Florida neuroscientist Kiminobu Sugaya, the brain responds to music in ways that are observable and measurable.
Sugaya and violinist Ayako Yonetani have been teaching students about music's effect on the brain since 2006. In that time, they have collected plenty of their own data proving what they teach. Regular exposure to music has shown to:
change the perception of time
improve communication abilities
assist in repairing brain damage
boost intelligence
evoke memories
motivate and relax.
A limited number of physical effects have also been linked to music. They include improving the immune system and helping patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Music has also been shown to help reduce seizures in those who regularly experience them.
It Is All on The Table
The most exciting thing about all of this, at least from our perspective, is that every kind of music is on the table. Researchers used to think that certain kinds of music were better for the brain than others. That is no longer the case. Data shows that the benefits of music are commensurate with musical preferences.
For example, people suffering from dementia seem to do much better listening to the same music they listened to as young people. The songs they hear spark memories of past days, which seems to help.
Music and Exercise
We utilize music in our cycling classes for two reasons. First, we know that the right kind of music can distract students from the labors of exercise. Let's face it, a good cardio workout is hard work. We human beings do not like performing that much work. As such, it is easy to get discouraged during a workout if you are focusing on covering so many miles or burning so many calories.
Music takes your mind off of what you're trying to accomplish so that you don't spend your time watching the clock or the digital display on your bike. But we use music for a second reason: the sounds and rhythms can be highly motivating.
Just like dance music at a party can motivate people to get up and socialize, the right kind of music in a cycling class can motivate you to pedal harder. It can motivate you to keep going when you start feeling winded. Music has that sort of affect. It pumps you up and keeps your mind in the game.
We cover multiple genres of music in our classes, so you are bound to find something that's right for you. Just remember that we give a lot of attention to music because we believe in its power to make exercise even more beneficial.