I find music to be incredibly motivating when it comes to workouts. There have been studies that show that music can increase performance and enhance endurance. While I can sometimes listen to audio books, podcasts or nothing at all when I run outside, music is a non-negotiable for me when I’m working out in the gym. If I’m going to survive a treadmill workout, I need a jamming playlist to get me through.
I am not only mindful of music with my own workouts but also when I’m leading classes. I think part of why I love BodyPump so much is because it’s all choreographed to music. When I’m coaching CrossFit I always make sure to crank up the volume when the WOD starts (usually hard rock or hip hop) and I spend way more time than I care to admit downloading music and creating new playlists for my yoga classes. I update my music and playlists weekly (at least).
I have received many requests recently from students to share some of my yoga playlists but I also thought I would share some of the songs that I can always count on to push me to the end of a tough workout.
So first…the songs that make me work “Til I Collapse.” These are the no-fail, keep your ass moving, zone out and finish songs. I never get tired of them.
I LOVE this remix of Til I Collapse so much that I named this post after it. I basically love anything Dubstep and the original version of this song is awesome too.
Gold Gun Girls by Metric. The beat is perfection for the final push of treadmill sprints.
I Made it by Kevin Rudolf. I always feel really good and accomplished about whatever I’m doing when I listen to this one.
I Need A Doctor by Dr. Dre Featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey. I’ve loved this one for years. Feels so hardcore.
Sweat by Snoop Dog and David Guetta. I just love that it talks about sweating so much.
And last…Remember the Name by Fort Minor.
Here is one of my recent yoga playlists. I’ll share others soon.
You’ll notice right off the bat that I don’t play a lot of traditional yoga music. I put together my playlists on a bell curve. I start with something slow and instrumental and slowly build the music through the warm up. The standing sequence gets a little faster paced and heavier and then things slow down again for the floor work.
Lately I have really chilled out with my selections for my yoga playlists. I’m SO over top 40/pop (unless it’s been remixed) and really into more dance/heavy and slow beat kind of stuff.
What are your “push me to the end of my workout” must-have song selections?
I love the spin classes that come with my gym membership but the music is HORRIBLE. Even worse when the instructor tries to sing along. SIGH.
The music is such a critical part of a fabulous spin class – I felt so bad when I read your comment. I swear I only take the spin classes with fabulous music, seems to truly correlate with a fabulous, motivating instructor.
I try to update my running playlist pretty often but one song that will never get old is Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder.
Loved seeing Sweat on your list – it’s also the first song on my “Run” playlist! 🙂 I also like Monster (Lady Gaga) and Super Bass (Nicki Minaj) – and several rocking My Chemical Romance songs!
How do you stay so current with your music? And do you buy each song from iTunes or do you have some other way of acquiring such a healthy playlist? I’m jealous and horribly music-finding challenged. Help!
I really would love to find a yoga studio here in Atlanta that plays music like that! I’ve only been to places that play new-agey stuff or no music at all.
Fave new push me song is Madness by Muse. It’s on the slower side, but it still pumps me up.
I’ve reached the point with my running where I really can’t listen to music (unless I’m on the dreadmill!)–I always have an internal dialogues going, and songs distract me. That being said, though, I absolutely need my iPod shuffle when I’m strength training or doing a ride on my indoor bike trainer. My favorite song as of late is “My Songs Knows What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)” by Fall Out Boy.
I get all my music from Power Music. You can find their CDs on Amazon.com, too, for cheaper. They have great mixes. I just recently bought an album that rotates one minute songs with three minute songs. You can push for three minutes and rest for one, without looking at a clock. I love it!
Ok, I guess I’m just an old fart (get off my lawn kids!)), but I’ve never heard of some of the songs and artists on your playlist. How do you find all the music to keep your list fresh?
I’m horrible at finding new music, and also horrible at making playlists, so I love when anyone shares their workout music/playlists – thanks for this!
I use jog.fm to find music to throw on running playlists as I’ve found that they’re whole premise is totally true – if I put songs they claim will have me running a 9:30 pace, I will end up running a 9:30 pace when that song comes on. I’m kind of obsessed with Bonnie Tyler “Holding Out For a Hero” and Quiet Riot “Cum on Feel the Noise” lately…so old school! I’m usually into pop and punk, but those two have made me smile and speed up every time they’ve come on lately!
“My Body” by Young the Giant makes me push harder every time I hear it
Looks like I have some new songs to check out :] My favorite right now is “I’m Legit” by Nicki Minaj. I love how diverse your yoga playlist is! I’ve always thought “African Air” by Kemopetrol would be awesome in a yoga class—you should check it out.
For me – right now it’s Pitbull – I’ve got a playlist of about 20 of his songs from Global Warning and Planet Pit. I haven’t had a single artist playlist in a while and i’ve been on this one for about a month! Be warned – Some of his lyrics are a little nasty – and I’m not sure i want to know what the translation is for some of the spanish lyrics.
I love when you put up your playlists! It makes me want to go to Charlotte and go to one of your classes even more! I’ll have to check out some of those mixes… I teach indoor cycling classes and one of my favorites is End of Time (Wulf & Forever Kid Remix) by Beyonce. Also, just found OneRepublic’s new song If I Lose Myself and am loving it! You should check it out!!