Music plays an important role when you’re working out. Music can hype you up to the next level so that you can push your limits. Many bodybuilding icons, like the seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dr. Mike Israetel, and the six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates, favor the claim that music affects your gym performance.

Recently, the nutrition Instagram page of The Shadow, “dynutrition,” uploaded a snippet of the bodybuilder talking about the music he used to listen to while working out. But which band dominated the six-time Mr. Olympia’s workout playlists?  

Music gives you an intense pump, says Yates

The Shadow listened to energetic music while working out in the gym. He explained that he “preferred rock music. For instance, Guns N’ Roses“. The six-time Mr. Olympia had developed a habit of listening to the same music when he trained his legs. “I did leg training for probably six years, which was Guns N’ Roses’s Appetite for Destruction because it was very powerful,” he said revealing his go-to song.

The former bodybuilder used to play rock music for all of his workouts to push his body to its limits, but there’s a catch. The 62-year-old bodybuilder never used headphones while he trained. According to Yates, he “didn’t even probably have headphones.”

The six-time Mr. Olympia shared that music is very important for fueling his “Blood & Guts workouts.” “Some people like to train, maybe in silence, but for me, I like to use loud, energetic music to get me pumped up for a workout for sure,” he explained. Another legend of the bodybuilding realm, Arnold Schwarzenegger, backs a similar claim with his evidence-based research.

Music can help you distract from fatigue

In a previous edition of the Austrian Oak’s newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, the bodybuilder shared, “If you want the ultimate natural workout boost, grab your headphones and turn up your favorite playlist.” According to Arnie, scientists highlighted that “music is one of the most effective ways to improve your workout“.

The bodybuilder who dominated the golden era also explained that music helps you increase your focus, motivation, strength, and endurance while doing a set. “Listening to music distracts your brain, reduces your perception of fatigue, and can help you train harder,” said Arnie. Scientists also believed that rhythm “makes you more efficient with your movements.“

Music can help you in a lot of ways while you train, and almost every pro bodybuilder listens to music while working out. This includes five-time Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead, whose favorite artist is Taylor Swift. Do you also listen to music while working out? Let us know in the comments.