100 Best Workout Songs

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Build the Perfect Workout Playlist

Skip the musical roulette.

Instead of setting your MP3 player on shuffle, proactively build playlists that provide the right energy all the way through your workout.

Keep it fresh.

Pick one weekend a month to see what's new on the iTunes charts by your favorite artists and in your favorite genres so your playlist never goes stale.

Get in rhythm.

Studies have shown that listening to music that syncs with your movements provides a better workout than exercising without tunes. See how to match your grooves to your moves below.

Untitled Document

Beats per minute Perfect for

160 and up Running, jumping rope

140 to 160 Jogging, Spinning

125 to 140 Power walking, stair-climbing, elliptical

105 to 125 Walking, toning

60 to 115 Stretching, yoga, warming up

Meet Your DJs

We polled readers and leading fitness and music pros for the top tunes of 2010 -- and a few all-time faves -- to sweat to. Then we asked the producer of Motion Traxx workout music podcasts, Deekron, known as the Fitness DJ, to curate the most-thumping nominees into 10 kick-butt playlists. Our panel also included:

Derek Beres, DJ and yoga teacher for Pure Yoga in New York City; Amy Blackburn, star of the Dance Off the Inches: Country Line Dance DVD; Cat Chiarelli, instructor for Crunch gym in West Hollywood; Yomi Desalu, director of music and talent for mtvU; Karina Diaz-Acosta Mahmoud, fitness instructor for Gold's Gym Venice; Johnny Dynell, resident DJ for DavidBartonGym Chelsea in New York City; Neil Haislop, country music journalist and author; Sunwoo Hwang, DJ for celebrity trainers and CEO of Proof Social in San Francisco; Jeanette Jenkins, FITNESS advisory board member; Bianca Kosoy, senior creative director and resident DJ for Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City; Marion Roaman, owner of Ride the Zone cycling studio in New York City; Ziggy Roman, club DJ based in Union City, New Jersey; Misty Tripoli, Nike Elite trainer

Originally published in FITNESS Magazine, January 2011.

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dsquared1013 wrote:

This is obviously a site for out of shape people to find a way to motivate themselves. If you want to actually be motivated while working out and do more than 20 minutes on the bike or elliptical, look up Stick.Man.

3/1/2013 07:02:03 PM Report Abuse

cnabors12 wrote:

this is a nice list of alternative/indie songs for running http://open.spotify.com/user/alternapop/playlist/2AOVSToYevFK4T1L8ksQb9

12/29/2012 07:19:39 PM Report Abuse

mjchapko1 wrote:

This list blows... It is play lists like this which drive away more clients of fitness centers than the quality/availability of equipment. The music on this and similar lists are for those who think a long term commit to working out is anything beyond 6-8 weeks.

12/18/2012 12:46:33 PM Report Abuse

sharonschisler wrote:

Great list! Always looking for new music to stay active! to exerciseandhealthyeating.com

10/28/2012 03:42:30 AM Report Abuse

egavulic wrote:

These ad Choices are most ANNOYING! They don't close!

10/17/2012 10:17:15 AM Report Abuse