Playlist: 22 instructor-approved songs for your group fitness class
Music. It can elicit a variety of emotions and actions. It can make you laugh, cry, fall asleep, reminisce or inspire you to shake your tail feather. To motivate people to move (and have a blast at the same time!), you’ll need the perfect mix of workout songs for your group fitness class playlist.
Enjoy these suggestions for creating the perfect workout playlist for seniors — they are a compilation of recommendations from group fitness instructors, active older adults and the author herself.
HINT: The BPM, or beats per minute, can help you with playlist placement: warm-ups and cool downs typically would have a slower BPM, while songs at the climax of your workout will have a higher BPM.
The perfect workout songs for your group fitness class music playlist
169 BPM: “Take on Me” by A-Ha – author recommended
160 BPM: “Happy” by Pharrell – Karin Amour, SilverSneakers Facebook fan
148 BPM: “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker – Laura Olinger, SilverSneakers Classic instructor
136 BPM: “Little Deuce Coupe” by Beach Boys – author recommended
135 BPM: “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar – Helen Wala Morris, SilverSneakers Facebook fan
130 BPM: “Heartbeat” by Enrique Iglesias ft. Nicole Sherzinger – author recommended
128 BPM: “Stand by Me” by Prince Royce – Marquita Trenier Wiley, Zumba Gold instructor
128 BPM: “Walking on Air” by Katy Perry – author recommended
127 BPM: “Waka Waka” by Shakira – Gale Basco Gibbons, Zumba Gold instructor
124 BPM: “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John – author recommended
122 BPM: “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge – Jack Hansel, Strength and Balance instructor
Adds Jack: “I like 60s rock and roll type stuff for good energy beats.”
120 BPM: “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” by Usher ft. Pitbull – author recommended
Mary Sifuentes, SilverSneakers Facebook fan: “So many Zumba songs or Pitbull.”
115 BPM: “Wings” by Little Mix – author recommended
115 BPM: “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble – Jennifer Beemer, Zumba Gold instructor
114 BPM: “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis Presley – Joan Ginest, SilverSneakers Facebook fan
110 BPM: “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett – Louisa Dexter and Toni Laramie Bergeron, SilverSneakers Facebook fans
109 BPM: “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Patrick Collins and Claudia Drobner Mills, SilverSneakers Facebook fans
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101 BPM: “Dancing Queen” by Abba – author recommended
87 BPM: “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins – author recommended
Elizabeth McNeil, Yoga instructor: “[The album] Om Guitar by Steven McNamara. Acoustic for Chair Yoga. Light and ambient. My folks love it.”
85 BPM: “Vocalise” by Rachmaninoff – Melanie Moon, Walking instructor
Tami Sauer, Strength and Balance instructor: “Love Enya and Jim Brickman for relaxation, stretch, and Yoga portions of class.”
81 BPM: “Ride Sally Ride” by Lou Reed – Susan Annunziata, SilverSneakers Circuit instructor
77 BPM: “Mambo Italiano” by Dean Martin – Pilar Paulmeno, Zumba Gold instructor
Adds Pilar: “Two favorites are ‘Mambo Italiano’ for warm-up, and ‘Banana Boat’ for cool-down.”
Want to check the BPM for your songs? Click here: http://songbpm.com
If you enjoyed this mix of nostalgic tunes, mood music and radio hits, please share this article or leave us a comment!