Fitness Friday: Music to Move You (Home Edition)

(A 30 min. YouTube playlist I created to work out to - some pop, some alternative, a little rap, and a lot of beat!)

Having a goal is a great way to kickstart an exercise program: an upcoming wedding or vacation, the desire to lose a few pounds, or a race you're doing with a friend in a few month's time.  But how do you get motivated to actually tackle that workout on a daily basis when the alarm goes off at 5 a.m. or you drag yourself through the front door at the end of a long day?

MUSIC!

The best classes I've taken and videos I own have awesome music!  But there are times that you want or need to supply your own grooves - maybe you're running on the treadmill or doing a routine from a printable, magazine, or book.  There are a lot of great FREE or low cost resources to find yourself some music to move to, and today we're going to talk about using music resources you can access so long as you have a browser nearby (a laptop, home theater computer, or browser on a tablet) while you're getting your sweat on.

If you're simply looking for music to get you out of the gate, pick something you like with a good beat and go for it! The above is a YouTube playlist (exactly 30 min. in duration) that I put together somewhere late in my 2011 P90X journey when I got tired of the repeat banter in the videos.  I've also created a couple Pandora stations that I enjoy when I'm working out.  This one (originally based on Britney Spears but tweaked over time) is the one I like to listen to while I'm doing one of my favorite Blogilates HIIT printable workouts.  Both of these options do have the downside of the occasional ad, but I use it as an excuse for a water break.      

If you're looking for a little guidance, some fitness instructors with an online presence put out a playlist.  For example, the Tone it Up gals put out a Love Your Body Playlist in January (which plays through a free spotify account; there are a few additional songs in the playlist that require a paid account).  I used to subscribe to the Pure Barre newsletter (when my feet used to allow me to do barre workouts) and they sent a recommended playlist each month which could be purchased through your preferred mp3 outlet.  If you're out in left field when it comes to picking music for your workout, some curated tunes can be a great investment.

If you want to get really technical, some music services with a fitness focus have playlists available by the BPM (or beats per minute) of the music and can tell you which is better depending on the type of activity you're planning: cardio, running, weight training, etc.  I recently discovered Motion Traxx and they have a ton of FREE playlists searchable by music genre, BPM, and type of activity.

I'm testing out some music app options for an upcoming Mobile Edition to this subject, but in the meantime what's your favorite way to add music to your workout and keep it fresh?