How to Make Workout Music Work for You

"Don’t forget to breathe."

Years ago we huffed and puffed, all the while eyeing Jane Fonda’s impossibly lithe, spandex-clad form and beaming face. Breathe? We barely could keep up with her. Who had time to breathe? Bursting out with laughter was our only alternative at that point. Comic relief if nothing else.

"Working out" has obviously evolved over the decades. In fact, it’s almost become a science in this electronic age of downloads and i-everything. And the options for choosing the all-important music to fuel our weightlifting, aerobics and cardio have become dizzying. To make some sense out of the diverse musical possibilities for warm ups, cool downs, and everything in between, I sought out opinions from workout mavens and professionals in the field, and trolled the Worldwide Web for popular playlists. Here are my results:

San Diego RN Marsha Norris, a self-professed "gym addict," has a wide range of tastes. She uses love songs for warm ups and "new age yoga-type" music for cool downs. "It depends on my mood or the muscle group I’m working," she says. "If I’m working on back muscles, it’s something heavy duty like Breaking Benjamin or Linkin Park. If I’m in a ‘mood’ or stressed out, it’s country music. If it’s a good mood, I’ll play Ariana Grande or Boom Clap." To keep her in workout mode at work, Norris brings her iPad loaded with iTunes lists such as "Now That’s What I Call a Workout." Other favorites include groups like Radio Edit and remixes from Cedric Gervais, Smash Mode, or Country Club Martini Crew. "If I’m really stressed, it’s Secret Garden Celtic," she adds.

Alexa Canseco, Zumba® instructor and activities director at Encinitas LA Fitness, picks out "high-energy" music from the choices given to her by the club. Generally speaking, "loud, with heavy bass" is what works for her. She finds Latin music fun to use for the club’s Zumba®, described on the website as "a Latin-inspired, calorie burning dance fitness-party™." For cycling, she likes "electronic-sounding" music. "For lifting on the floor," she says, "high-energy, strong beat. And for running, Reggae. I know it sounds kind of weird," she says, laughing. It sounds great to me.

Broadway singer and actress Jessica Vosk says, "I usually listen to the new SIA album while warming up, or Imogen Heap. I’m a huge hip-hop and rock fan when working out. BANG BANG, Aerosmith, Angels and Airwaves, ‘What Would You Do’ by Bastille, anything Beyoncé, Linkin Park, Pink. Cool down, I like to put on Jonatha Brooke. Right now I'm into her album ‘Angel in the House.’"

The Internet offers a panoply of playlists for the workout aficionado:

The Workout Music site (https://workoutmusic.com/music.html?bpmS=50&bpmE=100) features a testimonial from well-known Fitness Advisor Chris Freytag, and lists music according to bpms. Lower bpms (50-100), geared for general health and weight control, includes music of Carrie Underwood and Katy Perry; the next level (100-120) lists Gipsy Kings, Christina Aguilera and Backstreet Boys. The following level is listed by decade: 60s and 80s Walking Workouts, 90s Alternative Rock Workouts. For high intensity (145-160), suggestions range from Tribal Beats, Cardio BLAST!, Xtreme Cardio, and INTENSE! Workout Mixes.

You can download 100 top workout songs (requires Spotify, Facebook or email signup) at Fitness Magazine’s site (http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/music/popular-playlists/100-best-workout-songs/). Music for routines, also organized according to body area, includes hip-hop, power-up, dance workout, remixes, yoga and cool-down, strength training, country workout and rock workout songs. Examples: Drunk In Love (Beyoncé, Jay Z); Treasure (Bruno Mars); and Party Up (DMX). Women’s Health Magazine offers "A 45-Minute Cardio Playlist That Feels Like a Party" to "make your cycling workout COUNT".

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6LZDnvuQZY) and Pandora (http://www.pandora.com/music/workout) offer full-length workouts to accompany every taste: Pop, hip-hop power workout, rap strength training, dance cardio, yoga, country fitness, Latin, Classic Rock, Bollywood, Spinning and Weight lifting.

According to Flywheel instructor and Flywheel development coordinator Chris Tracey of Flywheel Sports Stadium Cycling™ Workouts, on the Women’s Health Magazine site (http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/flywheel-playlist), "A big part of why you work so hard is because of the music."

I tend to agree. Just put on your music and go. But whatever you do, don’t forget to breathe.