Let the Music Move You

Music has always been a great motivator in my life and in my business.  Back in the early 80s I was buying 45s and recording them onto cassette tapes to bring to gyms, country clubs and rec centers to teach this new thing called aerobics.  I remember the day I could no longer buy the 45s and I was purchasing some vinyls and albums which were much pricier, but if I did my homework I could get a few songs off of one album and make it worth my while.  There was also the error of recording from one cassette to another and I remember the day that Mitch bought me my first Sony tape-to-tape recorder/player.  I could now record on the same machine that I could use to play my tapes for class.  Or, with business growing, and "free" time diminishing, I could turn to the experts and purchase already mixed tapes. This opened up a whole new world of choices. But soon came the CD and a whole new way to purchase and listen to music.  Out with the tape player, in with the CD player.

Fortunately while how we listened to music kept evolving, my business kept growing.  I was now purchasing almost all my music premixed by a company called Dynamix where I could find many choices in all different "beats per minute".  From high impact,to senior style, pop music and tempos to lift weights to, all my choices were there.  Whatever I couldn't find there, I could find at the used CD store my son Derek worked at  (and then owned).  There at CD Heaven, I was able to find great new age CDs at a great price.  I think I have everything Enya and Enigma ever made!  These CDs are just great for Pilates, yoga and stretching.  For the moment CDs are the main staple of my work music library.  That is destined to change soon!

Just when the music library is well stocked, along comes a little new technology called the iPod.  I resisted...until this winter when I upgraded my phone at AT&T and caved and got the iPhone.  A week later, during a haircut, I was introduced to Pandora Radio.  After downloading the app on my phone (for free) I can basically get ANY kind of music I want at the touch of the screen.  This is such a fantastic thing for when I am out running or walking the dog.  I am a big believer in carrying a phone when running or walking, in case of an emergency.  A phone and music was too cumbersome, but with both right there in one handy device, it's fantastic.

Music is a great motivator and without it my business would not at all be the same.  Sure, sometimes a quiet workout is just what the doctor ordered, but most often the tempo and the lyrics are what make our workouts fun and help get those endorphins kicking!  Today I am offering praise to Pandora radio and www.dynamix.com where you, too, can find CDs or downloads to help make your workouts more fun, more efficient and more effective.

And while we are on the topic of music, I would be remiss to not mention last night's Grammy awards.  While I sadly fell asleep before I saw the tribute to Michael Jackson, I was quite impressed by several of the female performers.  I thought the opening with Lady Gaga and Elton John was not only fantastic but it was as if two soul mates finally found one another.  They were great together and seeing him reminds me that a great entertainer CAN be just that, regardless of how far they color outside the lines.  Though I have never been a Pink fan, she was incredibly entertaining and blew the whole audience away with her ability to multi-task.  And then there was Beyonce.  Seriously it is amazing and unfair that one woman can be so talented in so many ways,  have the most insane body and be so ridiculously beautiful all in one lifetime.  Apparently many feel the exact same way as we look at the list of last night's winners.