How to Choose Music for Stretching

"Music" (c) thomselomsen
CC Attribution 2.0 License

This might be a no-brainer for some people, but choosing stretching music is a little more involved for me. There are a few things I consider: tempo, what it reminds me of, and mood. The main goal is to choose music that will help you keep your motivation to stay in your stretches long enough and to keep working on them until you've finished them all.

Tempo
Some days this is the biggest factor in how music affects me personally. It's harder to want to hold a stretch when the music is crazy fast so after my normal warmup (running) I tend to switch to slower music. Try to pick something you enjoy but can still zone out to, maybe some old favorites (80's for me) or something soothing like classical or country. After a super powerhouse workout I might just leave my current playlist running since I'll be too spent to care.

Association

What inspires you? A scene in a martial arts show (I saw one the other day where one character scorpion kicks)? A YouTube guru? A favorite figure skater, pole dancer, or other athlete? If there is a song from a scene or video that inspires you try that. If you take studio lessons use the songs from whatever plays while you stretch. The key is to trick your brain Pavlov style: hear flexy music --> want to stretch. Need inspiration? Check out my Weekend Crush posts. I try to envision myself as any one of my flexy idols so I can focus more on what I want instead of how far I am.

Mood
This one is a little similar to association. Create a mood for yourself with your music. For example, if you love how sexy flexibility can be choose slow, seductive songs. Or maybe stretching is very zen for you so nature sounds like rain or birds chirping would be right for you. Then again stretching can be a mini torture session so you might want to be in a mood that takes you away from the moment. Try something catchy or a song you always end up singing along to.

Whatever your choices, repetition is always key. For one, you need to get into a nice groove where you crave stretching instead of dread it. For another, the more you follow a regular stretching routine the more progress you will make--regardless of whether you're stretching intensely every time or having really lazy stretching days. Plus, remember Pavlov! No, I don't want you to drool when you hear a bell, lol, but you can get your mind to want to stretch when you hear your stretching music. Happy stretching!