Music helps you get fit – but the right mix will keep you

Finding tunes with a tempo and rhythm to match your heart rate can help you keep the pace when you exercise – and make it more enjoyable

Anyone who’s ever hefted a dumbbell or laced up a running shoe understands that music, on some level, makes the process more enjoyable. That’s why tunes and training are a hit combination: there are playlists, classes and even entire fledgling genres promising to help you push for the burn.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways music can help you mid-workout. First, by helping you dissociate from any discomfort you’re experiencing and, second, by improving the quality of the training itself. The former seems to work especially well for long, slow efforts.