Music can boost workout to next level

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Updated: January 1, 2012 1:45AM

I love music, always have. So, whenever I set out for a run or walk, I’m rarely without a well thought-out playlist of my favorite tunes. Each song will either inspire me to kick up the pace or to hold steady and enjoy the opportunity to be out and moving.

In other words, for me, music inspires me to appreciate the opportunity to move my body to its full potential. But can music really make a difference in the quality of your workouts? According to research, it certainly can.

Dr. Jason Karp, owner of RunCoachJason.com, and author of four books, including “101 Winning Racing Strategies,” and 2011 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, believes that music may give that ho-hum workout a much-needed shot in the arm.

“Research shows that people exercise at a higher intensity with music, especially when that music is of a fast tempo,” he said. “People also report that the exercise is more pleasurable with music.”

Additionally, research conducted at Brunel University in London validates the power of music during exercise. The research concluded that listening to music while you exercise could increase your endurance by up to 15 percent. However, the research does stipulate that to be effective, you need to look for music with 120 to 140 beats per minute to maximize results. In other words, listening to a ballad will likely slow down your efforts.

I spoke to Chris Lawhorn, who is the resident DJ at Marie Claire magazine. Each month, he reviews 300 to 400 new singles to find the best new music for a workout. His picks are organized on his website, RunHundred.com, according to their beats per minute.

“I compile most of the club, Itunes and Top 40 charts, and post all the new songs on my website. Then, the site’s visitors and subscribers vote on whether they would or wouldn’t work out to them,” he said.

Lawhorn says the most popular songs in the gym from the first half of 2011 err in favor of pop hits and dance tracks. But, as always, there are a few exceptions.

“The most interesting developments, perhaps, are Adele’s omnipresence, even in the gym, and the continued crossover between dance and pop music,” Lawhorn said.

Do you have your favorite workout tunes? Is your workout lacking a little something? Maybe you just need some new music to kick your workout into full gear. According to Lawhorn and his voters, here are the Top 10 workout songs in 2011:

105 BPM — Adele: “Rolling In The Deep (Jamie XX Shuffle).”

122 BPM — Jason Derulo: “Don’t Wanna Go Home.”

125 BPM — Katy Perry: “Teenage Dream (Kaskade Remix).”

127 BPM — Deadmau5: “Sofi Needs A Ladder.”

128 BPM — Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera” “Moves Like Jagger.”

129 BPM — Cee Lo Green: “Forget You (Le Castle Vania Remix).”

129 BPM — LMFAO: “Party Rock Anthem.”

129 BPM — Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer: “Give Me Everything.”

130 BPM — Tiesto, Diplo & Busta Rhymes: “C’mon (Catch ‘Em By Surprise).”

150 BPM — Avril Lavigne: “What The He**.”

Karp reminds us that although music may boost some workouts, it is important to pay attention to your body, and not let the tunes mask the activity that you’re doing, and how your body is responding.

“Relying too much on music, and not being aware of your body, can be a downside of music, especially for those new to exercise,” he said.

If you’d like to see what’s hot in workout songs as well as checking out next month’s contenders, you can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections by genre, tempo, and era to find the music that best fits with a particular workout routine.

Music, it just may be in the ingredient needed to kick up your next workout.