Step aerobics relies heavily on music to keep you moving, and the best music to keep you moving meets a few criteria. The best step aerobics music is not necessarily of a specific genre or style, but rather it relies on the tempo, rhythm, speed and your personal preferences.
Beats Per Minute
Step aerobics needs music that has between 120 and 127 beat per minute, ShapeFit notes. The music speed must be fast enough to keep you moving but not so fast that you end up flubbing steps or inviting injury. The music needs to accommodate the time it takes to properly execute the movements up, down and around the step as well as knee-lifts, lunges and other moves that are part of a step workout.
Speed Adjustments
If the music seems excruciatingly fast or slow, there are ways to tone down or boost your step workout without taking the music speed out of the recommended range. Step platforms measure between 6 and 10 inches, and you can go for the lower end to tone down a workout or a higher end to increase the intensity. Reducing or adding arm movements to a step workout can change the intensity. Arm movements can increase your heart rate and energy spent by 10 percent, "American Fitness" says. Using your full range of motion, such as lifting your knees all the way to your chest, is another way to increase the workout's intensity. Using smaller movements and steps can bring the intensity down.
Style
No one musical style works better over another for step aerobics, as long as the beats per minute fall into the recommended range. The best bet is to choose a style you like. If you listen to music you like you are more inclined to work out harder, longer and with more enjoyment. If you're getting into the music, ACE Fitness notes, you are not paying as much attention to your breathing, sweating or exertion level, which means your workout can actually seem easier.
Examples
Step aerobics music examples that fall into the 120 to 127 bpm range can include everything from dance music to motivational songs. "Fitness" magazine compiled top music lists from its editors and readers. Best workout tunes in the dance category included Rihanna's "Only Girl (in the World)" with 126 bmp, Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP's "We No Speak Americano" with 125 bpm and Kruse & Neumberg's "Lovers n' Fighters" with 124 bpm. Two motivational tunes that qualified were Sharkia's "Waka Waka" and Michael Smith's "Take My Breath Away," each with 126 bmp.
Member Comments