How do I Put Music Together for Aerobic Exercise?

Aerobic exercise is a system of endurance exercises that keeps your heart rate elevated for a prolonged amount of time. It is usually done with music. The music played while performing aerobic exercise can have a positive affect on motivation, impact and endurance.

Things You'll Need

  • MP3 player
  • MP3 Docking Station
  • ITunes Account
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose music to fit your exercise style. Decide whether you will be doing high-impact or low-impact aerobics. Both forms of aerobic exercise offer similar benefits, but differ in execution. Georgia State University identifies high impact as moments when both feet are off the floor at the same time, whereas in low-impact one foot is kept on the floor at all times. Since high impact involves both hopping and jumping the beats per minute of the music will be higher than with low impact exercise.

    • 2
      Walking in place is a great warm-up.

      Download warm up tunes. Warming up is essential to all work-out programs. This involves some type of warm-up activity such as marching or walking in place. It is best to use music with about 115 beats per minute. A good example is Young MC's eighties hit "Bust A Move."

    • 3

      Choose and download faster music for the workout. After you have warmed up you can then begin to increase your aerobic capacity with a few songs in the 120 to 135 beat per minute range. Songs like Usher's "DJ Got Us Falling in Love Again" and Michael Jackson's "Beat It" fall in this range.

    • 4
      Step aerobics is a great low-impact exercise.

      Chose and download the peak tunes. For songs at the peak of your high-impact aerobic exercise you want to keep your heart rate elevated and prolonged with music between 140 to165 beats per minute. Fun songs in this range include "Mickey" by Toni Basil and the classic "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins. About three songs at this level are all you need.

    • 5
      Relaxing music should be used for stretching or cooling down.

      Choose and download cool down music. Just as you did when warming up, you will want to gradually cool down. For instance, use one song at 120 to 125 beats per minute and then end with a song between 100 to115 beats per minute.