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This world-famous tennis pro designed a workout symphony that makes you smarter

Cape Town – According to Psychology Today and a report first published in 1993 - by scientists at the University of California, Irvine – working out and listening to certain classical music can make you smarter. 

World-famous Swedish ex-tennis pro Björn Borg decided to combine the two to see if it was possible to create the world's smartest workout symphony. 

According to Björn composing a classical piece with a BPM of 123, this unique symphony will increase your endurance – and also raise your IQ.

READ NEXT: Why your brain actually needs music.

Together with a training expert, a neurologist and a classical music composer Björn and his team now present the world's smartest workout track, titled Symphonia Exercitii Et Intelligentiae. It's a track built after a BPM backed by science, that not only will increase your workout results, but also make you smarter.   

The almost 10-minute-long cinematic symphony was composed by noted classical composer Jonas Valfridsson and has been performed by a Swedish orchestra.

LISTEN TO IT HERE: 


While shooting the music video, Björn Borg decided to move their compulsory office workout activity, known as sports hour, to a concert hall. There, their staff got to experience the symphony, performed live by the Jönköpings Sinfonietta. 

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO HERE:


About the collaboration, Jonas said: "To be asked to write a symphony for training was an unusual request and a challenge as a composer. With inspiration from my favourite Rocky I work out anthems, it feels like I have composed the soundtrack to my own superhero movie! I also wanted the piece to have an upbeat and rhythmic feel, without losing the melodies and counterpoints of classical music. Through the music, I want to convey the feeling of facing a challenge and the proudness in fighting and overcoming it."

READ NEXT: How music affects these 4 disorders.

Lennart Högman, a Senior Lecturer and researcher in cognitive neuroscience, added: "Physical exercise is beneficial for more than your body - research shows it can improve your cognitive abilities such as memory and focus. It has also been found that listening to music while working out will increase your endurance. Also, some say music with a set BPM of 120-140 can be ideal for a workout (depending somewhat on your fitness level). Conclusively, listening to classical music while working out can raise both your motivation as well as endurance, and in turn, bump up your cognitive performance." 

Compiled by Alex Isaacs. (Sources: Psychology Today, Classic FM)

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