Playlist: 22 instructor-approved songs for your group fitness class

Music. It can elicit a variety of emotions and actions. It can make you laugh, cry, fall asleep, reminisce or inspire you to shake your tail feather. To motivate people to move (and have a blast at the same time!), you’ll need the perfect mix of workout songs for your group fitness class playlist.

Enjoy these suggestions for creating the perfect workout playlist for seniors — they are a compilation of recommendations from group fitness instructors, active older adults and the author herself.

HINT: The BPM, or beats per minute, can help you with playlist placement: warm-ups and cool downs typically would have a slower BPM, while songs at the climax of your workout will have a higher BPM.

The perfect workout songs for your group fitness class music playlist

169 BPM: “Take on Me” by A-Ha – author recommended

160 BPM: “Happy” by Pharrell – Karin Amour, SilverSneakers Facebook fan

148 BPM: “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker – Laura Olinger, SilverSneakers Classic instructor

136 BPM: “Little Deuce Coupe” by Beach Boys – author recommended

135 BPM: “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar – Helen Wala Morris, SilverSneakers Facebook fan

130 BPM: “Heartbeat” by Enrique Iglesias ft. Nicole Sherzinger – author recommended

128 BPM: “Stand by Me” by Prince Royce – Marquita Trenier Wiley, Zumba Gold instructor

128 BPM: “Walking on Air” by Katy Perry – author recommended

127 BPM: “Waka Waka” by Shakira – Gale Basco Gibbons, Zumba Gold instructor

124 BPM: “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John – author recommended

122 BPM: “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge – Jack Hansel, Strength and Balance instructor

Adds Jack: “I like 60s rock and roll type stuff for good energy beats.”

120 BPM: “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” by Usher ft. Pitbull – author recommended

115 BPM: “Wings” by Little Mix – author recommended

115 BPM: “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble – Jennifer Beemer, Zumba Gold instructor

114 BPM: “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis Presley – Joan Ginest, SilverSneakers Facebook fan

110 BPM: “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett – Louisa Dexter and Toni Laramie Bergeron, SilverSneakers Facebook fans

109 BPM: “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Patrick Collins and Claudia Drobner Mills, SilverSneakers Facebook fans

101 BPM: “Dancing Queen” by Abba – author recommended

87 BPM: “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins – author recommended

Elizabeth McNeil, Yoga instructor: “[The album] Om Guitar by Steven McNamara. Acoustic for Chair Yoga. Light and ambient. My folks love it.”

85 BPM: “Vocalise” by Rachmaninoff – Melanie Moon, Walking instructor

Tami Sauer, Strength and Balance instructor: “Love Enya and Jim Brickman for relaxation, stretch, and Yoga portions of class.”

81 BPM: “Ride Sally Ride” by Lou Reed – Susan Annunziata, SilverSneakers Circuit instructor

77 BPM: “Mambo Italiano” by Dean Martin – Pilar Paulmeno, Zumba Gold instructor

Adds Pilar: “Two favorites are ‘Mambo Italiano’ for warm-up, and ‘Banana Boat’ for cool-down.”