Midweek Moves: Wednesday workout with groovy music is the new norm

The most streamed songs associated with workout as a genre on Spotify in India include ‘Zinda’, ‘Kar Har Maidaan Fateh’ (from Sanju), ‘Unstoppable’, ‘Brothers Anthem’, ‘Sultan’ and ‘Believer

Exercising on Mondays can get the ball rolling for your weekly workout routine. This saying may not be true anymore. According to Spotify, the music streaming service, the highest volume of workout music streams isn’t on the first day of the week but mid-week onward.

The data revealed that the most number of music streams associated with working out take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Also, on these days 7am to 8am and 6pm to 8pm are the most popular time slots.

Explaining why midweek is gaining popularity when it comes to workout, Delhi-based fitness enthusiast, Godhuli Sengupta, told Moneycontrol, “Over the weekend, people have social engagements. Monday Tuesday goes unwinding and then suddenly the reality check happens during mid-week and people hit the gym more.” Sengupta agreed that music is essential to work out during the middle of the week. “On Monday you don’t need motivation, music is midweek’s pick-me-up,” she said.

According to 20-year-old Aryaman Gautam, a college student from Vellore, mid-week evening works the best for him. “Because it is the most crowded at that time, you feel a need to flex your muscles and get pumped. It feels great that everyone’s attention is on you.”

Meanwhile, Sengupta said beat is something that helps to do that extra rep.

Sai Srinivas Polavarapu, coach from Pune-based fitness startup, said Wednesday is the new Monday for working out. “After the weekend, the priority is to reach office on time on Monday. Due to activities and late nights over the weekend by the time you are back from work on Monday you need to sleep. It is only during the midweek that you get back to a proper routine,” he said.

According to Spotify, GenZ contributes to more than half of all workout music streams in India. Listeners on Spotify seek music for various types of workouts, including gym sessions, running, cardio exercises, cycling, brisk walking, strength training, yoga sessions, and even while playing football.

The most streamed songs associated with workout as a genre on Spotify in India include ‘Zinda’, ‘Kar Har Maidaan Fateh’ (from Sanju), ‘Unstoppable’, ‘Brothers Anthem’, ‘Sultan’ and ‘Believer’. Anirudh Ravichander, Sukhwinder Singh, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and Sidhu Moose Wala are the top artists associated with workout music for Spotify listeners.

International artists such as Imagine Dragons and Eminem also made it to the list. For most, it is the beats which matter more than the language. “It totally depends on the mood and the type of workout I’m doing. If it's intense weight training, then I would prefer a song with either strong vocals that I can relate to or a song with high beats that give you an adrenaline boost. Whereas, when it comes to walking on a treadmill I would listen to the trending songs that I’m hooked on to. Again while sprinting it would again be high beats and relatable/motivating vocals,” said Meerut-based college student, Tarika Rastogi.