Fitness / 15.01.2015

New Year, New soundtracks to sweat to

By Lauren Clark
The right tunes can make you work harder and get stronger, fast

Woman in workout gear…forweb

Image: iStock

Get your heart pumping with beats scientifically designed to make you work harder, custom-created by Shaun T, hardcore HIIT pioneer and founder of the Insanity workout.

Missed your favourite dance fitness class? Or perhaps you’re watching the pennies and going DIY with your workouts in 2015? There’s no need to see a dip in your results. Insanity’s infamous frontman Shaun T has curated three bespoke playlists, inspired by some of 2015’s buzziest workouts to put some ‘oomph’ into your solo training.

And the right soundtrack can really produce results – science says so. “Lyrical content, tempo or rhythmic feel can affect our physical responses, making certain songs more suited as an accompaniment for physical exercise,” said Dr Costas Karageorghis – expert on music for exercise and sport at Brunel University, who, along with music-streaming service Spotify, helped tailor each one. Whether you want to re-create the Zumba sass in your sitting room or fire up your tabata sessions, there’s a power-up playlist for you.

Cardio Dance

We love Zumba and Piloxing for mixing up fun and hardcore calorie-burning. This playlist throws in strong rhythm, uplifting lyrics and maximum dance-ability. Time to shake it!

1 Fancy – Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX (BPM of 95)
2 Boss – Fifth Harmony (BPM of 103)
3 Problem – Ariana Grande (BPM of 103)
4 Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (BPM of 115)
5 Crazy Stupid Love – Cheryl Cole ft. Tinie Tempah (BPM of 120)
6 Right Here – Jess Glynne (BPM of 120)
7 I Loved You – Blonde ft. Melissa Steel (BPM of 123)
8 Fireball – Pitball ft. John Ryan (BPM of 124)
9 Real Love – Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne (BPM of 125)
10 I’m Not The Only One – Sam Smith (BPM of 82)

Try it tonight…Cardio Dance Playlist

Tabata

Want to triumph over your wobbly bits? It’s tabata time. A high-intensity, interval-based gym session of 20-second periods, and 10-second recovery breaks, will achieve effective results. Fast tempos are essential for maintaining the effort required. Plus the encouraging lyrics – “I don’t ever want to give up” – will keep you moving…promise!

1 Everything Is Everything – Gabriel Garzon-Montano (BPM of 86)
2 Figure It Out – Royal Blood (BPM of 108)
3 Wrapped Up – Olly Murs ft. Travie McCoy (BPM of 122)
4 Won’t Look Back – Duke Dumont (BPM of 124)
5 Time Of Our Lives – Pitbull & Ne-Yo (BPM of 124)
6 The Night Is Still Young – Nicki Minaj (BPM  of 128)
7 I Will Never Let You Down – Rita Ora (BPM of 128)
8 Break Free – Ariana Grande ft. Zedd (BPM of 130)
9 All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor (BPM of 134)
10 Sugah Daddy – D’Angelo & The Vanguard (BPM of 93)

Try it tonight…Tabata Playlist
 
Read more: Why you should get in competition with yourself

Insanity

Want to push yourself to the max? Playlists with super fast average tempos will secure your attention and intensity. Tracks that correspond with your heart rate work best – songs going 171 bpm (like Sigma’s Changing) will keep you in the zone.

1 Sing – Ed Sheeran (BPM of 120)
2 Heroes (We Could Be) – Alesso ft. Tove Lo (BPM of 126)
3 Let’s Go – Calvin Harris ft. Ne Yo (BPM of 128)
4 Lips Are Movin – Meghan Trainor (BPM of 139)
5 Dare (La La La) – Shakira (BPM of 144)
6 Don’t Stop – 5 Seconds of Summer (BPM of 150)
7 American Beauty/American Psycho – Fall Out Boy (BPM of 151)
8 Changing – Sigma ft. Paloma Faith (BPM of 171)
9 Bang Bang – Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj (BPM of 150)
10 Marilyn Monroe – Pharrell Williams (BPM of 117)

Try it tonight…Insanity Playlist

With tunes that you won’t be able to stand still to, there is no excuse not to shake up a sweat. Choose your workout, press play and #JustMoveMore. And remember, it’s nice to share – tweet, Facebook or Instagram us your pics. We’d love to see how you’re getting on.

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New Year, New soundtracks to sweat to
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New Year, New soundtracks to sweat to
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Get your heart pumping with beats designed to make you sweat more. Spotify have used science to shake up your go-to gym soundtracks with bespoke playlists.
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Healthy Magazine
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