Traditionally, no music other than the sacred sound of chanting or flute playing was tolerated during a yoga practice. Yoga playlists were certainly not sought after, as secular music did not have a place in this ancient method of self-discovery.

Today there are countless songs, CDs and soundtracks made specifically for the enhancement of a yoga practice, and as the popularity of yoga increases, the range of music played in classes broadens.

In some styles of yoga, music is still not played in class, however it is increasingly more common to hear uplifting tunes that awaken the spirit no matter the genre. While some say this is a distraction, others say this is an integral part of the practice, as music can be a pleasant compliment. Music invokes passion, reflection, empathy and satisfaction, which are some of the same familiar feelings that arise when we practice yoga.

Read Full Post >

By Erin Whitehead for FitBottomedGirls.com

Whether you’re training for a marathon, sprinting to a lover or running from the cops, this hodge-podge running playlist will get you moving. And with a total run time (run time…get it? Ha!) of just less than 37 minutes, it’s the perfect length for any running or jogging workout!

Credit: timtak

Running Music Playlist

1. Running, No Doubt: Warm up with a slow walk, picking up the pace during the choruses.

2. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen: Although we may not have all been born to run, this tune is perfect for building up to a jog, whether you’re a beginner runner or an Olympic athlete.

3. Ready to Run, Dixie Chicks: When the Dixie Chicks are ready ready ready ready to run, you should run faster, too.

4. Let’s Get It Started, Black Eyed Peas: Let the chorus be your guide. Get a sprint started when the Peas want to “get it started in here” and recover between the choruses.

5. Play, David Banner: Be warned, the explicit version is explicit. Enjoy this steady song and maintain your pace.

6. Break My Stride, Blue Lagoon: This version’s a little more fast-paced than the original, so feel free to pick up the pace again.

7. Runnin’ Down a Dream, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Recover from your last push for the first half of this song, then pick up the pace again.

8. Run For Your Life, The Beatles: Pick up the momentum here for a minute, then recover before your last push.

9. Police On My Back, The Clash: Speed up your pace for the last time here, pushing yourself when they start listing all the days of the week they run.

10. Run, Collective Soul: Slow it down, ending on with a walk during this cool-down song. Pat yourself on the back for a run well done!

What’s your favorite song to run to?

Also Read:

25 Best Workout Songs Ever

Fun Summer Workout Playlist

A Glee-themed Workout Playlist

MTV turned 30 this week. Thirty years ago, August 1, 1981 to be exact, MTV debuted with The Buggles “Video Killed The Radio Star,” and since then reality TV has long ago killed the video star. Plenty of people have grumbled about the absence of music videos on the most famous music video network, so I won’t go further down that road.

The road I will go down, though, is a nostalgia trip down memory lane. Here are some high energy songs from the golden age of MTV to help with your next workout. They also happen to have all been played on the first day MTV aired:
Read Full Post >

This week we’re going to do something a little different in our workout mix. In reality, it’s not a workout mix at all. This time we’re going to address an aspect of our health that gets the least attention: our mental health.

While we need to do cardio and strength training exercises for our physical health, we also need to take time to relax and maybe even meditate. There have been plenty of studies that back the health benefits of meditation (and considering the fact that my 5-year-old daughter is currently throwing a temper tantrum in the other room, I may need a little time for it after I finish writing).

Meditation has been shown to do everything from lowering stress and anxiety levels to enhancing the immune system and normalizing blood pressure levels.

The following is a mix of ambient music and atmospheric jazz that will let you get lost in the soundscapes and hopefully leave you more grounded and ready to take on the stresses of everyday life.
Read Full Post >

Maybe it’s a bit early to do a “best of” music list for 2011 – the years go by too fast as it is – but I thought it would be cool to take a look back at the roughly first half of the year and see what might actually work in the context of a workout mix.

So, do as I do and get lost in a new workout playlist. Some of these songs are from artists who have been around for a long time and others are fresh new faces on the scene. All of them inspire me creatively and put me in a place where I can forget that I’m exercising.
Read Full Post >