Time, as they say.

The idea, as concept, is neither new nor particularly inventive. But it is interesting. So let’s explore a little and see what develops. (Or, hold really still as we try to shoot the apple off your head).

It all started with a comment made by a music critic (a job I always considered obscenely paradoxical) who suggested that a particular piece of music, a movie score, ‘takes us to a different place.’  OK, cool, we all get that music can, and should, do that. The quandary enters stage left, when we match that against the standard ‘be here now’ idea of being in the present moment. As you not doubt have heard me recommend on several occasions, this is one of our highest ranking spinning, training, racing and learning principles. TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM DYNAMIC FLOW STATE ONE MUST BE WHOLLY PRESENT IN THE ACTIVITY. You have also, on an equally frequent rotation, heard me comment  on the power of music to assist in this process. As a classical example I will infer that anyone who listens to Ode to Joy without feeling a touch of its titular emotion, is missing out on some serious high octane magic. It does, indeed, fill all the requirements of time and space transport. For the record, so do a thousand other songs, in every genera crossing every stylistic platform, time signature and featured instrumentation from Vivaldi to Van Halen. This phenomena is very personal however much the social customs of the day dominate, like any good propaganda, the direction of choice.

Which circles us back to the original idea, which, framed in question format becomes: How can we ‘allow’ music to take us to a different place while staying in the present moment?

Given the underlying colloquialism, its poetic license, the ‘taking to another place’ isn’t a physical transport at all but more a not-so-subtle shift in perspective, a look-at-it-this-way opportunity to open one of our many doors of perception. Let the sound take you away. Away from anger, fear, anxiety, stress, doubt, weakness and guilt. When we ‘get lost’ in something it is really a choice we make to become totally immersed in the exhilarating freedom of having nowhere to go and nothing more to lose. All pointing with neon arrows to the power of the now. We actually increase our innate ability to simultaneously use both sides of the brain as we move our bodies in graceful harmony in search of this magical place we call flow. If ever you wondered about ways and means to achieve contact with your soul, I will rest the case on this combination.

With apologies to Ludvig, Antonio, Herman Hesse, John Kay, Eddie, John, Paul, Kris Kristofferson and Rossini, I humbly submit (and we will test the theory Saturday) that this could be a break-through in scientific methodology. Can we, by using the criteria and protocol outlined above (inviting the ‘other place’ properties of music to enhance the power of the present moment as it applies to indoor cycling), achieve a greater level, discover additional quality or deliver cleaner value to our workouts?

Time, as they say, William Tell.