DECONSTRUCTING A FLEXPILATES PLAYLIST

It’s no secret that music is a huge part of every FLEX workout.  The playlist can make or break a class, which is why we spend a lot of time and energy to make them so awesome! Ever wonder just what goes into the making of one of my FlexPilates playlists?  Here’s last week’s class & playlist with a glimpse into the process of how it all comes together and why I chose the songs I did…

Opener/Warmup
Friend (Hard Times) by Galantis 

The opener is key to setting the tone for the class.  I like to pick something with a good beat that’s not too strong to get everyone warmed up and ready to work.

Pikes/Lat Pull/Transition to Back
Magic (Shaun Frank Club Cover) by Coldplay 

It’s important the first and second song flow from one to the next.  I love to start with remixes because it gets the beat going setting the pace of the class.  I like a  longer for a sequence like this that takes class from the front to the back.

Back of the Machine Leg Series (Step ups/Rowing/Reverse Forward Lunges/Side Splits)
Do it Again by Röyksopp feat. Robyn
Burn Baby Burn by Mercy Me
Superlove (Stefan Dabruck Remix) by Lenny Kravitz

I try to think of the class in blocks.  So choose songs for each block that go together in some way.  I like them to have the same feel or energy.  These 3 songs make sense together and keep the sequence moving so one exercise flows right into the next to keep the heart rate up.

Seated abs on the back platform
Love Train by Wolfmother 

I love the beat of this song and I love throwing some rock into the playlist.  It’s a  good way to shake it up, so it’s not just remix after remix.  In my head, Lenny Kravitz to Wolfmother makes sense and doesn’t seem to jarring since we are switching genres.  This week I played around with tempo doing slower elongated movements in this set which is always fun to do. I like to find different ways of using the beat rather than just always keeping the movements directly on it.

Obliques
On To the Next One by Jay Z & Swizz Beatz
Burial by Yogi feat. Pusha T

Also in my head, rock to hip hop is a perfect transition.  I love a good hip hop set for obliques. There is something about that dirty heavy beat that makes me feel like a badass, which is just how I want to feel during a brutal oblique sequence.

Kneeling Press/Sweep & Standing Chest Expansion series on carriage
Gas Pedal (Caked Up Remix) by Sage the Gemini
Lip Gloss by Little Mama
R.I.P. by Rita Ora 

Continuing on the hip hop train.  I like to keep the beats heavier for stability exercises like these, so it’s not tempting to rush or move too fast.  It’s important to find the control and not just power through.  Plus I love any excuse for more hip hop… and Little Mama.

The One Hundred/Supine Abs
Reflections (Gryffin Remix) by Misterwives 

The One Hundred requires a strong driving beat to help power through since it’s  the last push before putting the feet in the straps.  This week I also added one last plank and mountain climbers to really finish strong and this song provides the perfect beat!

Leg Circles/Stretch
Get it Right by Oh Honey
Keep on Lovin’ You by We are Twin

Sometimes I like to really slow it down at the end of class, but this week I picked 2 more up tempo stretch songs to keep the energy up and fun.  They are more mellow than the rest of the playlist, but still send everyone out with a little pep in their step.

So there you have it!  A FlexPilates playlist deconstructed…  If you like my playlists be sure to follow me on instagram @jennseracuse! I post them there every week and you can also follow me on Spotify to listen to them!