Work it out
If you’re like me, you’re excited about spring, but not excited about the fact that you’ve been hibernating all winter. Under layers and layers of sweaters and poofy jackets. Yes, I am self-conscious about my body. But not in a bad way. After all the cold weather has kept me inside all winter, I want to be able to go out - to go for walks, to play in the park, to run around. I feel out of shape.
So, on Monday I went for the gym for the first time… in a long long time. And then I realized. What was I going to listen to? I scanned my ipod, but couldn’t find the right combination of songs to keep me going through my workout. Et voila, here is my work-it-out playlist, featuring mostly Asian American artists. It is just about 30 minutes, and hopefully will take you through a 30 minute stint on the treadmill, or the elliptical machine, or whatever suits your fancy.
Comrades & Friends, From Monuments to Masses
I picture listening to this song as I start off on a run on a sunny spring afternoon in Boston. But, I’m not really in to running right now, and it’s not springy and warm out. But, I feel like if you were inclined to go for a run on a sunny Boston spring afternoon, this song would get you pumped for the run, building up your energy, and probably get you a little pumped about creating political change as well. The audio snippets will give you food for thought, a reason to run, something to work towards. This song is from an album appropriately entitled “The Impossible Leap in a Hundred Simple Steps.”
Lovers Who Uncover, The Little Ones
Hopefully, this cheery song will help keep your energy up. It has a peppy happy beat and I picture this song carrying you through the initial burst of energy when you start your run. It’s like your own indie rocker cheer squad. I first started listening to The Little Ones after I read about them in a 2007 wrap-up in UCLA’s Asian Pacific Arts online magazine. I like their more indie sound - I was tempted to make a whole mix of hip-hop, but that just didn’t seem right.
Bring the Funk, Ben Harper
This song is for when you’re in the zone. When you hit that part of your run when you’re just cruising and hitting that nice endorphin high. With Ben Harper urging you to “bring it, bring it, bring it, bring it…” what else are you going to do but bring it?
Next Frontier, Native Guns
Now you’re hitting that wall. “Put your hands up, let it all out!” Part of you wants to give up,turn back, secretly lower the resistance on the machine you’re on. But this song bring you back, remind you why you should keep going. Si se puede!
Fire For the People, Blue Scholars
This is where the struggle starts. The part where you think you can’t make it, but once you do, you feel pretty damn good. I imagine this song, the lyrics, the beat just pushing you. To keep going. To pump soul in your heart.
Turn It Around, Kiwi
I think at this point in your run, or your bout on the eliptical machine, it’s all about the beat. If you have a beat that can keep you going, that can motivate you, then you’re good. Hopefully, this will keep you going. Put your fist up, let your body just take over the motions, and just succumb to the movement.
Unda Control, Magnetic North
So, not only did I not want this mix to be all hip-hop, but I couldn’t deal with it being all male-identified either. This is the home stretch, where you know you’ve made it. Up the hill, over the hump, whatever. You’re starting coast, and yeah, you’ve got it all under control.
Gone, Going, Black Eyed Peas featuing Jack Johnson
So this is a cheap add, but I think this song is the perfect cool down. For when your home is in your sights, and the end is near. You’re breathing almost normally again, and you’re starting to feel that nice after-workout glow. Ahh. You made it. No problem.
And now, you’re energized, ready to take on the next fight.
So, I’ll make the commitment here - I’ll try this playlist the next time I go to the gym (hopefully this week) and report back.
Last 5 posts by delia
- Rocket 2 U - May 13th, 2008
- Asians Rock: What's your story? - May 11th, 2008
- In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson - May 10th, 2008
- Our Month - May 2nd, 2008
- Ivy League Skills? - April 28th, 2008