As stated in earlier posts, Cory and I joined Equinox a few months ago and since I started teaching barre classes I really have begun to get a firm grasp of how music can affect the classroom environment…BIG TIME! Music has the power to cheer you up, make you cry, turn you on and even bring you back to a specific moment in time. To this day, I can hear ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ and I am transcended through time into my childhood besties bedroom, chatting about boys, gummy candy and Aqua Di Gio cologne. Today, I hear Ed Sheeran come on the radio and instantaneously think about hubby, our wedding, making babies one day and how lucky I am to have him in my life. I even shed a couple tears of joy the first time I heard ‘Thinking Out Loud’, but now that I have heard it about a million times, I am no longer emotional, but the song still puts me at ease and lulls me as I drive through the death-trap that is I-95 in Miami.
Speaking of music, mood changes and workout classes, I have had the chance to try a variety of different workouts at Equinox and experience every teachers use of music as motivator. I have found that not only am I motivated by the clothes that I wear (I was just gifted an ‘I Will What I Want’ Under Armour T-shirt from Six02 Movement along with my ‘I AM’ StellaValle bracelet that says I Am: Strong, Confident, Passionate and Couragous from my new sister-in-law) I have found that I look at these strong words during class and they help to keep me striving to move forward. With every sweat sesh, the classes that I love have high intensity club beats, top 40 hits or classic 80-‘s jams. I like the lights down and the beats turned up…WAY UP, so I don’t hear grunts of defeat from those around me.
***Side note people…I do understand using your breath to aid in proper form and supplying enough oxygen to your muscles, but there is nothing worse than hearing the person next to you complain and grunt the entire class! I know it hurts, but that is why you threw on your spandex and got your butt to class…to change your body! So think positive and maybe get to a few Yoga classes to learn how to properly use your breath.
Rant over, Let’s get back to the Jams…Here is a list of some of my favorite Pandora Stations:
Pop and Hip Hop Workout Radio: Usher, Iggy, Pitbull, Meghan Trainor
Dance Cardio: David Guetta, Rihanna, Pitbull
Pop Fitness Radio: Lindsey Sterling, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry
80’s Cardio: Def Leppard, Kenny Loggins, Michael Jackson
Hard Rock Strength Training: Breaking Benjamin, The Days Grace, Linkin Park
Rap Strength Training: Lil Wayne, DMX, Jay-Z
Country Fitness: Miranda Lambert, Luke Brian, Tim McGraw
Yoga Workout: Emancipator, Thomas Newman, Blackmill
Ever wonder where instructors get their awesome mixes from?
Check out ClickMix and download some of your favorite re-mixed jams here!
Working out at home? YouTube has some great fitness music channels (Click Below):
Hip Hop/Rap Motivational Workout Playlist
Love and Motivating Music,
Taylor