Blood Pressure

I've talked about exercise and blood pressure before, but here is a little different slant to it. A study out of Italy demonstrated that listening to rhythmic music such as classical, Celtic, or Indian for 30 minutes a day while concentrating on breathing was beneficial to lowering the blood pressure.

Interestingly enough, I have been doing a thing I call bounce and shake for weight loss. It follows along the lines of native American dancing. I don't have a problem with high blood pressure, but I feel confident now that I likely never will.

Back to the breathing part and music, try that as a way to unwind at the end of the day. Listen to a classical piece of music and meditate. The research indicates that the music helps you slow down and deepen your breathing.

Music and Exercise

Any of us who have taken an aerobics class know that music really helps get you moving. Many studies have shown that up-tempo music definitely enhances cardiovascular performance. Selecting music based on age and taste can significantly increase a person's endurance by 15%. In addition, music makes the experience of a cardiovascular workout way more positive. Think about it. If you have done an aerobics class and even if you come out sweaty and feeling like you worked extra hard, you still have a positive attitude which is likely attributable to the music.

So if you are exercising on your own, not in a class, consider having some up beat music that you like to help boost your endurance.