When you're pushing yourself to finish that last mile on the treadmill, you might find that music is extremely helpful. The bass along with the beat help you feel invincible, maybe even just a little angry, so that you can push your body to move that much farther.
This is often a strategy that is used in the gym or during fitness classes. Steph Dietz, an instructor at spin studio Cyc in NYC, says that music also helps her clients mentally escape. "Riders often find themselves full of different emotions during a workout, and the music selection is a key component to that. Pairing the lyrics of songs with inspiration from our instructors elicits great emotional responses."
That doesn't exactly mean that those loud beats are good for your hearing, though. It can cause some serious damage!
If you ever find that the music is making you uncomfortable, it's likely damaging your ears, Nitin Bhatia, MD, of ENT and Allergy Associates in White Plains, NY tells Shape Magazine. "One of the early signs of damage to the ear from loud noise exposure is ringing or buzzing in the ears, also called tinnitus," he explains. "Tinnitus can be temporary or at times permanent. That's why it's important to protect your ears from loud noise exposure."
If loud environments are impossible to avoid (or if your favorite instructor always seems to play the music just a little too loud), ear plugs can be your next best bet. "Earplugs will dampen the noise—you will still be able to hear, but it will protect your ears from noise damage," explains Bhatia. "Also, identify where the speakers are and try to position yourself as far away as possible in the room to decrease the intensity of sound exposure to your ears," he recommends.
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