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Its a sweaty gym studio, the music is booming.

Youre desperately trying to move along to the beat while peddling like mad.

But you find it increasingly impossible to synchronize to the music and end up trailing behind or stopping altogether.

woman sweating in the gym

While you may blame your coordination, it could actually be the music that is the issue.

Internet listicles of the best workout songs are filled with tracks that reach very high tempos.

Instead, a wealth of sports psychology tells us that listening to slower music is actually most effective.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

The power of music

Hundreds of studies have demonstrated thebeneficial powerof listening tomusic while exercising.

There are two ways of listening to music during exercise.

The limits of synchronized songs

But getting synchronization right is harder than it might sound.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

During an intense workout the tendency is to put on fast-tempo music with a high bpm.

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Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

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This would mean listening to tunes with 180 bpm.Thats not within most peoples listening repertoire.

Instead Karageorghis recommends running to a half beat.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Find a track thats 90 beats per minute.

The trick is to use the slower beat to match every other movement.

But there are also positive psychological outcomes from music as slow as 100 bpm.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Apps likeMuzecan be a handy way to create a playlist at the exact tempo youre looking for.

For extra fun, embrace the lyrics, too.

(130 bpm).

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