Music has an immediate impact on our lives. There is a theme song for every occasion, a station for every genre, and a song for every season.

We walk the malls to “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” during Christmas, cry to “Ave Maria” at funerals or weddings, and dance to today’s hottest hits at the local bars and clubs.

Music sets the tone for the environment, and the wrong soundtrack could suck the energy right out of the room, along with all of the people in it.

Because of this, you need to come musically prepared to the gym! You can’t push yourself to run with the soothing voice of Josh Groban coming through your headphones, and you can’t strength train with intensity while Michael Buble serenades you to “The Way you look tonight.”

Imagine trying to channel you inner Yogi while a remix of 50 cent featuring Eminem pounds through the Yoga studio walls. It is not the time nor place for such intense jams.

So when it comes to our daily exercise routine, why settle for a mediocre radio station, the 5:00 news on the TV, or the sound of your own feet? Those are anything but motivating, and will hardly keep you going with intensity and purpose.

Create a playlist that will get you excited to sweat. It should be a reflection of what your routine will consist of, and help push you through to the end.

Plan ahead.

What are you planning to do at the gym today? Intervals? Long distance running with some serious stretching? Hardcore circuits? Any of these workouts have a level of energy that needs to be sustained throughout each phase.

Your music will help you through this.

Pre Workout: DO NOT play slow,soothing music in the car on the way to the gym. It will put you to sleep, and completely drain you of any energy you have. Keep the music exciting and upbeat. Think Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Flo Rida, and the like. Blast it to get your body amped up and ready to move.

The Warm up: Now that you’ve prepped yourself with energizing beats, you’re ready to warm up your muscles. Keep the flow going with some Pussy Cat Dolls, Tao Cruz, or some good ol’ fashion MJ (Michael Jackson). If you really want to be a cornball, add “We will Rock you” to the mix.

The Zone: Now is the time to push yourself. Keep that heart rate up. You can’t slow down your pace, you cannot get bored. Speed up the music with some David Guetta ,LMFAO, Pit Bull,  Black Eyed Peas and Ke$ha. Add in some Nirvana, Metallica, or Rage Against the Machine to add the intense factor while strength training those arms and legs.

Cool it down: The Cool down is just as important as the rest of your workout. Your heart rate needs to decrease to a normal rate, which may be hard to do with amazing beats bumping your ear drums. In order to prevent yourself from skipping this part of the routine, have your “Cool Down” songs ready. Think Plain White Tee’s, The Fray, or Muse for example and continue that mode while you stretch those rewarding muscles.

You may be a country fan or prefer to listen to alternative rock. Whatever your music preference may be, make sure to build a playlist that will keep you going from start to finish. It’s you and the music.

It’s your workout. OWN IT!

What’s on my IPod:

Just to name a few…

• Adele: Rolling in the Deep
• Black Eyed Peas: The Time
• Pitbull & Jennifer Lopez: On the Floor
• Pitbull & Enrique: Hey Baby
• Frisco: Sea of Love (Hixxy Remix)
• Shakira: Loca
• Weezer: Memories
• Lady Gaga: Born this Way
• Enur: Calabria
• Mumford and Sons: The Cave
• The Script: For the First Time
• The Avett Brothers: Head Full of Doubt

 What’s the soundtrack to your workout?