Essentrics® – Moving to the Beat of the Music

A great song should lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good” – Colbie Caillat

Music is an essential component of any Essentrics® class.

Picking music can take hours as the objective is to strike just the right tone. My goal is to have the workouts be sharp and engaging, and not flat. In today’s world, music sources are everywhere, including Artlist, Audio Network,  iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, and yes, even the retail stores. Other Essentrics® instructors are also sources of inspiration and may have unique ideas and musical tastes.

In class, all I really need to play music are a smartphone with a music app, and Bluetooth technology as appropriate to amplify sound for the group setting. My students will always let me know if the music is too loud!! I aim to provide a pleasant learning experience with the music being a part of the process.

In the span of an hour, my class can hear genres ranging from pop and reggae to classical music, Latin, country or even smooth jazz. Maybe the song is an old standard sung by a popular entertainer or a contemporary rendition of a song that several musicians have arranged and produced. Perhaps the song has vocals or is merely instrumental. I’m mindful when it comes to lyrics to ensure that they are clean and leave a positive impression on the class. 

Music choices based on sequences

Let’s take a look at a workout and break down components you’re likely to encounter. 

Say, for example, that the workout’s objective is improved body strength, stability, balance and body awareness. The workout will start with a warmup to get the body moving and the blood circulating. The music is generally upbeat to start the process of unwinding. Maybe students snap their fingers approvingly and hum along while moving their arms up and down or side to side to loosen up. The right music draws them in and encourages them to keep going for the rest of the class.

Trademark movements are generally slower and more deliberate, accompanied by dramatic music that evokes a pure, positive emotion. These could include reaching for the ceiling and slowly opening the chest while extending the arms out to the side and bringing them down in a slow controlled motion that builds strength.

Kicks are powerful exercises and require the driving music that will support the sequence’s strengthening objectives. Similar objectives apply to plies to keep the legs moving. Think of the music as a distraction technique as repetitive motions can tire the legs. These appendages have to be strong to support one’s weight.

Many workouts include arm pumps, where the music can be amusing and entertaining. Arms are heavy appendages, so here, the music with just the right beat can assist in making this challenging exercise enjoyable. I often have the students imagine holding open elevator doors when the limbs are extended.

Stretches, using either the floor or a chair, are likely to incorporate softer music as the workout is drawing to a close. Winding down, the music needs to reflect that slower pace. A closing song to round out the workout could come from classical music or opera as long as it isn’t overpowering. It creates the feeling of relaxation.

The next time you go to class, pay attention to the playlist and see how it makes you feel. Music is a neuromuscular technique in that it can trigger any one of a number of emotions. What sounds like just an ordinary song to one person can be powerful enough to make another individual cry, especially when combined with movement. It’s a universal language that can be interpreted in any one of a number of ways.

Perhaps you have ideas for a song you’d like to hear sometime. If appropriate, you might just find yourself moving to its rhythm in a future workout. Stay tuned.