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How Do I Choose the Best Music for Pilates?

Misty Amber Brighton
Misty Amber Brighton

If you are regularly completing a Pilates workout, the right type of music can enhance your performance. When choosing music for Pilates, it is helpful to consider the movements and what you would like to accomplish during your workout. You may want to visit a website that has workout music for you to download, and this can often be done for free. It can be a good idea to listen to the music for the first time while simply relaxing so you can get an idea of whether you like the arrangement.

Think about your normal Pilates routine when you are deciding on background music. If you primarily do Pilates exercise for flexibility, a soft and soothing arrangement might be best. Music for Pilates workouts that are aerobic may need to be more upbeat, so you could use songs from your favorite artists while doing these. If the workout alternates between aerobic activity, weight-bearing exercise, and stretching, you may want music that changes tempo as the type of exercise changes.

A prenatal pilates DVD will usually offer various intensity options, and may include background music.
A prenatal pilates DVD will usually offer various intensity options, and may include background music.

You may want to visit your local library in order to find music for Pilates. This is because many libraries have compact discs (CDs) for their patrons to check out free of charge. Doing so could enable you to do a Pilates workout to different types of music so you can see which genres you like best before spending any money on this music.

If you are doing a Pilates workout at home, you can use a digital video disk (DVD). These Pilates routines often include background music, which is written especially for that particular video. This means you may not need to worry about music if you are using an exercise video. In the event you are unhappy with the arrangement, you can mute the sound and turn on other music that is more to your liking. If this is something you choose to do, make sure you are already familiar with the routine so you do not miss valuable instruction while doing so.

People may not need to worry about music if they are using an exercise video.
People may not need to worry about music if they are using an exercise video.

Finding the right music for Pilates can require a great deal of trial and error, so do not be discouraged if you are unable to find an arrangement you like right away. Even after you find Pilates music you are happy with, you may become bored with it after using it for some time. The good news is there are endless possibilities for workout music, so you are free to change what you listen to at any time.

Discussion Comments

welshtaffy

I am a professional composer and it is because of articles like the one above that I now find myself with very little work at all. It's because of illegal downloading of music!

On Youtube there are over 100 videos featuring music. They have been taken without consent and used as a background to various videos. There is one which is approaching 100,000 hits and from that I will not receive one cent! What hope is there for future composers like myself?

Gomer Evans

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    • A prenatal pilates DVD will usually offer various intensity options, and may include background music.
      By: evgenyatamanenko
      A prenatal pilates DVD will usually offer various intensity options, and may include background music.
    • People may not need to worry about music if they are using an exercise video.
      By: nyul
      People may not need to worry about music if they are using an exercise video.
    • Music can influence a person's mood.
      By: umberto leporini
      Music can influence a person's mood.
    • Individuals who perform Pilates to improve their flexibility may prefer music that is soothing.
      By: aykuterd
      Individuals who perform Pilates to improve their flexibility may prefer music that is soothing.