warm up

A smooth cardio track to get your blood pumping:

The Temper Trap - Resurrection

workout

These tracks are meant to fire you up and push you through your entire workout. Starting with Arcade Fire, you better be ready to move! This song will give you the bounce in your step as you get the workout started. Kanye West’s Power remix is perfectly placed in the middle of the workout. You’ve got the power! Finishing up with Drake, let the song speak to you and how hard you worked. Let your workout make you feel like the greatest and unforgettable!

Arcade Fire - Ready to Start
Yeasayer - O.N.E.
CEO - White Magic
Sleigh Bells - Tell ‘Em
Kanye West - Power
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
Mark Ronson - You Gave Me Nothing
Drake - Unforgettable ft. Young Jeezy

cardio wrap up

Some steady beats that’ll push you through the cardio wrap up of your workout. As you finish up your cardio, know that the dog days are over! Let this remix of Florence + the Machine’s hit allow you to embrace the hard work of the workout and know that it’s over!

CEO - Come With Me
Bag Raiders - Sunlight
Deadmau5 - Animal Rights
Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over

stretch

Three tracks that’ll help you stretch out and cool down from your workout. The final song on this playlist, by Jonsi, will put a smile on your face as you finish up. Take in all you’ve done today and reap the benefits of a great workout!

Yeasayer - Madder Red
Mumford & Sons - Awake my Soul
Jonsi - Around Us

What were your favourite tracks to warm up, sweat, and cool down to in 2010?

This summer has been sweet, hasn't it? Endless sunshine has made for countless ways to sweat once a day - from the beach to the trails, the opportunities to spend time outdoors are endless. That being said, on the days when it gets TOO hot I always head to the gym for a dose of air-conditioned coolness.

This brings me to my next point. You know how a song can instantly transport you back into a specific place or time in your life? Well lemme tell you, all these early morning gym seshs have had me reminiscing about high school, and more specifically, hip hop. I forgot how fun it is to sweat to - the beats are sure to keep you moving on even the slowest mornings! With no further ado, may I present my all-time favourite hip hop workout playlist. *Note: Be careful playing these at work - Colt 45 consumption is considered unacceptable in most office environments.

SHUTTERBUGG - BIG BOI & CUTTY

Big Boi, one half of the magical tandem known as Outkast, released another solo project a month ago and it might be the coolest album of the year. I take back what I said last month about Drake having the song of the summer - Shutterbugg is hotter (sorry, Drake - it isn't personal... I just hadn't heard THIS yet). And don't worry, he and Andre 3000 are still cool - Dre produced half the tracks on this album. Play this for the haters who say all new hip hop sucks.

TIPSY - J-KWON

Is this song mature? No. Is the beat sick? Absolutely. Just let it happen!

1970 SOMETHIN' - NOTORIOUS B.I.G. FEATURING THE GAME AND FAITH EVANS

A lot of the time, posthumous duets are contrived and unnatural feeling. This track, however, feels like all three ducked into a studio one night and cut something awesome... and as per usual with Biggie, the lyrics are an 11 out of 10.

BABY DON'T GO - FABOLOUS FEATURING T-PAIN

T-Pain raps about something other than being on a boat. Miracles ensue.

STILL NOT A PLAYER - BIG PUN FEATURING JOE

Still a banger in the clubs 10 years later, Joe's dedication to wearing the freshest mock necks in the history of crooners is simply the cherry on top.

CHERCHEZ LA GHOST - GHOSTFACE KILLAH

Wu-Tang Clan's eight main members all made fantastic side albums while still recording with the samurai-loving supergroup. This is my favourite, mostly because of Madame Majestic's weirdly edgy yet Edith Piaf-y voice.

SENSUAL SEDUCTION - SNOOP DOGG

Louis XIV style hat, including feather? Check. Electro beats & auto-tune? Check. Hookah pipe with gold fillagree handle? Check. Snoop Dogg getting away with all of it and making it awesome because he is Snoop Dogg? Check, check, check!

ME MYSELF AND I - DE LA SOUL

Hip hop's feel good pioneers will have you whistling while you work... out all day long. And yes, I know my jokes are especially bad today.

VIVRANT THING - Q-TIP

A member of legendary group A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip left the group in the late 90s to make an album that was both profound AND danceable - this right here is the best cut.

WORKOUT PLAN - KANYE WEST

Sir Caps Lock inspires you to work out by talking about, you guessed it, working out. Mister West recorded this track before discovering his newest favourite way to sweat - exercising his Twitter finger.

A MILLI - LIL WAYNE

You'd think someone repeating "A Milli" like, a milli times (I warned you about the bad jokes!) would be annoying - but magically, it's turbo awesome instead. Let's hope they've given him at least a key-tar in prison.

GONE TIL' NOVEMBER REMIX - WYCLEF JEAN FEATURING R. KELLY

It's hard to pick one Wyclef song that gets the party started (the whole Carnival album is rippin', for example) - but this jam gets the nod for one very important reason: my top dog KELS. You can trash R. Kelly all you want, but you can't deny that if he invited you to a white-themed boat cruise with a champagne shot luge you'd be there faster than Carl Lewis to a finish line (for reference, check the video for "Step In The Name Of Love"). Braid. My. Hair.

APACHE - SUGARHILL GANG

While Rapper's Delight gets all the love, Sugarhill Gang's "Apache" is my favorite. The harmony sounds like a leftover disco hook that was discarded when punk tookover - and while that doesn't explain their jheri curls, it does explain the sweet funk beat.

HERE I AM - RICK ROSS FEATURING AVERY STORM AND NELLY

It's a good thing we don't use records anymore - because this track is so addictive that it would have worn a groove in the disc in no time. It also provides a neat solution for those of us who front that we don't like Nelly but secretly put "Batter Up" on repeat. Don't judge me!

ALLURE - JAY-Z

It's hard to pick one Jay-Z song and put it on a list - this is simply my personal fave. With what is arguably the deepest discography in hip hop, composed of club anthems, quirky b-sides and collaborations with artists from all genres of music, Jay-Z has successfully traversed the gangster rap/underground-intelligencia hip hop scenes without succumbing to any stereotypes. Proof of his coolness: Little Orphan Annie was sung sans irony by gang-bangers when "Hard-Knock Life" came out. Amazeballs.

Summer is here and the opportunities to exercise and enjoy the outdoors are greater than ever. Here are some tunes old and new for you to sweat to - because let's face it, you're probably glistening whether you're exercising or not! To listen and purchase these songs, simply click on the artist name/song title and you'll be cranking the tunes in no time.

KYLIE MINOGUE - ALL THE LOVERS

The divine Miss Minogue is back with an album reminiscent of her work from earlier this decade - swirly and girly pop with enough bass and quirkiness to keep things from going sickly sweet.

THE TEMPER TRAP - SWEET DISPOSTION

Are you enjoying the World Cup as much as the rest of the world has? Get in on the action with the song on the tournament - this inspiring little gem would be perfect on a sunrise jog. Cough cough GO SPAIN! cough. This tickle in my throat, I tell ya...

LATRYX - LADY DON'T TEK NO

When everyone else was singing about guns and gangs in the early nineties, these dudes were busy being the chillest cats in town, talking about pretty ladies and what they should wear to the beach that day. Warning: this song might make you feel cool. Just saying.

METRIC - HELP ME I'M ALIVE

This Canadian band has been making the music festival rounds for years now, building a loyal cult following in the process. The lead singer, Emily Haines, has managed to perfect the art of sounding simultaneously bored and animated. I was confused by it at first - and then I noticed that they made every playlist I made for two years. Moral of the story: there isn't one. Moving on...

JOE BUDDEN - PUMP IT UP

Mozart, Puccini.....Budden. This is quite possibly the most inexplicably awesome song in the history of music. Don't try and question it's powers - p-pump it up!

SCISSOR SISTERS - INVISIBLE LIGHT

The Sisters even admitted themselves that the didn't like their last album. Jake Shears, Ana Matronic & company's newest foray into the world of uber-eccentric Elton John inspired glam-rock is a winner though - and if you wanna take your Momma out to this, she'd better be wearing spike heels and extensions.

M.I.A. - SUNSHOWERS

Whether you love her or hate her, M.I.A. has been making some of the most consistently interesting music of the last decade. This little gem from her debut album is my favorite.

THE XX - BASIC SPACE

These Brits name Aaliyah and The Cure as their musical influences. I don't hear it in their songs whatsoever - but I do hear alot of radicalness. Check it.

T-SPOON - SEX ON THE BEACH

I make no apologies for this whatsoever: I love 90's pop-reggae and I don't care who hears me. This song might bring back memories from that one night at that all-inclusive from your college days - or it might just make you think of euro-cut jeans and taupe lipstick. Arrrr-iba!

DRAKE FEATURING JAY-Z - LIGHT UP

It happens every year - one album gets a stranglehold on the summer, from the clubs to the radio stations to the cars cruising the strip. This is it - and luckily, it doesn't suck. Far from it.

NEON INDIAN - DEADBEAT SUMMER

If someone asked me who the kookiest band was in current music, it would a tough decision between these dudes and MGMT. Luckily, their brand of crazy makes for some seriously interesting music - and it gets better with every listen, too.

NEIL DIAMOND - CHERRY CHERRY

If this song can't get you in a good mood, then I don't know how to help you.

JUNIOR SENIOR - MOVE YOUR FEET

These Danish dudes make the most hilarious, silly, danceable stuff out there. This will get you lunging in your underwear when you're brushing your teeth getting ready for work.

CHROMEO - MOMMA'S BOY

Their electro dance hits get all the attention, but this little ditty by Chromeo is the cutest.

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - YOU'VE GOT THE LOVE

If you are new to these guys, check this song out to see what all the buzz is about. Florence's heavenly voice and the heartfelt lyrics might be just the push you need on that last mile to cheer you on.

REAL LIFE - SEND ME AN ANGEL

You wanna win at the office karaoke contest? Throw this on and start fist-pumping - you'll have a blue ribbon in no time...and probably a Fan Club. No biggie.

Summer is finally here - do you need some new bright & shiny tunes to match the sunny weather? Well look no further - here are 13 tracks infused with virtual Vitamin D for your ears.

HOME – EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS
Start your morning with some yoga on your patio and play this in the background. Seriously happy music that you will hum happily for the rest of your day!

DANCING ON MY OWN – ROBYN
I know what your thinking - is this the same Robyn that is on all my dust-covered 90's compilation pop CD's? To answer your question - it sure is, but Robyn has zoomed into the 21st Century with some music dancy enough to give Kylie Minogue a run for her money. Plus she has cool hair - that counts for something, doesn't it?

MAN IN A SUITCASE - THE POLICE
Sting and company have never sounded more stoked than on this forgotten gem. You'll swear there is sun shining out of your stereo!

BIRDS - CRYSTAL CASTLES
Alice Glass and company are back with an album that will be ruling the airwaves all summer. Fantastic tunes if you like electro that is a little off-kilter and imaginative.

TENDERONI – KELE
No, this isn't a cover version of the hit Chromeo song; this is the brand spankin' new first single off of Kele's new album. Who's Kele, you may ask? No big deal - just the lead singer of a little group called Bloc Party. Oh, and he decided to make a dance record. Booiiiinnnggg!!!

AMERICAN DREAM - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG
Are you good at whistling? Can you whistle and smile at the same time? This song will put you to the test! A good old fashioned summer tune for that slow-pitch or beach volleyball playlist.

SONG FOR THE BABY - KELIS
Kelis has had a busy year. First she broke up with Nas, then she raided Grace Jone's tickle trunk for an aggressive game of dress-up, and now she has teamed up with superstar French producer/DJ David Guetta for an album filled with whimsical vocals and thumping beats.

WHITE LINES (DON'T DO IT) - GRANDMASTER FLASH
It's easy to see why all the young guns sample the hip hop classic tracks - they're unbelievably catchy! This song is amazing for intervals - hilarious lyrics and a wicked ascending chorus will make you forget about the pain. Well, kind of.

EASY LOVE - MSTRKRFT
An electro classic from the legendary Canadian duo. If you haven't checked them out yet, prepare for the obsession.

RÖYKSOPP - WHAT ELSE IS THERE? (THIN WHITE DUKE REMIX)
Yeah yeah yeah - it's been in a billion car commercials. Who cares - this early 2000's dance floor staple is a serious a sweat inducer.

LET'S DANCE - DAVID BOWIE
"When you say run, I run with you." Dude, DAVID BOWIE is running with you!

INFINITE ARMS - BAND OF HORSES
This song is plain and simple one of the prettiest tracks in recent memory. Run to your favorite beach and press play when your toes hit the sand - you'll reward yourself with a supremely serene cool-down.

WALKING ON SUNSHINE - KATRINA AND THE WAVES
The classic summertime jam-jam for dancing around and singing in the mirror post-shower with a towel on your head and your toothpaste as your microphone.

Do you have any suggestions for the next playlist? Leave Alexis a comment below.

workout playlist - may 2010

Is your workout playlist stuck on repeat? Here are some old & new tracks to get your headphones (and body) jumping.

BULLETPROOF – LA ROUX
Super-fun summer pop perfect for, like, team workouts and getting-ready parties and stuff!

LITTLE LION MAN – MUMFORD AND SONS
The vocals are so warm and the lyrics so familiar-feeling on this track, you’ll swear you’ve heard it before. It IS new – but will be an old favourite in no time.

ZERO – YEAH YEAH YEAHS
Karen O is the coolest lady on the planet by a country mile. This song is solid proof.

MEMORIES – DAVID GUETTA FEATURING KID CUDI
It’s time to jump on the Guetta bandwagon – why not throw in some Kid Cudi for good measure?!

ONLY – NINE INCH NAILS
Five years later & I’m still upset that Trent Reznor cut his hair, but no matter: this is one heck of a diss track – Reznor makes getting dumped good enough to dance to! The worship continues…

B.O.B. (BOMBS OVER BAGDHAD) – OUTKAST
When people argue that electronica is the only music high-octane enough for cardio, I bring up this little ditty. Point – Lex!

PARIS IS BURNING (CUT COPY REMIX) – LADYHAWKE
Cut Copy + Ladyhawke = your new favourite song. It’s science!

STOP ME – MARK RONSON FEATURING DANIEL MERRIWEATHER
You know when you pull up to a red light and bust the guy next to you singing at the top of his lungs? It’s probably this song – it might have the catchiest chorus ever.

LISTEN UP (MSTRKRFT REMIX) – THE GOSSIP
Beth Ditto gives you some useful advice over a wicked beat. Where was this song when I needed it in high school? I could’ve used the wise words from Beth AND the street cred from MSTRKRFT. Sigh.

LET THE BEAT BUILD – LIL WAYNE
Do you have a set of intervals that hurt so good? Let Lil Wayne burn with you – this song will mimic the pain and the satisfaction at the finish.

ROAM – THE B-52’S
“Love Shack” gets all the credit – meanwhile, this hilarious track languishes on long-forgotten tape mixes. Put this on when you’re driving to the gym on “I don’t feel like working out” mornings – you’ll be ready to rock by the time you park.

TENNESSEE – ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Another feel-good track to lift your spirits – and we can never have enough of those, can we? We can also never have enough rhetorical questions, can we? Hmmm. Think about it and get back to me.

BANQUET (PHONES DISCO EDIT) – BLOC PARTY
“Silent Alarm” was one of the best albums of 2005 – and then Bloc Party went one step further and remixed it, causing a million hipsters to lose their collective minds. Listen to this and you’ll see why.

SKELETON BOY – FRIENDLY FIRES
One of the most unusual beats in years – you’ll spend so much time trying to figure out if this is 4/4 or 6/8 time that your run will be over before you have an answer. Running and partying at the same time – what a concept!

SHOOTING STARS (PARTY ROCK REMIX) – BAG RAIDERS
If Cut Copy and Massive Attack had a baby, it would be the Bag Raiders. Check out the remix version of the wicked “Shooting Stars” for added oomph.

MOMENT OF TRUTH – GANG STARR
Put this on during an introspective run and let Guru spit some truth at you. One of the most underrated MC’s ever.

STRANGE OVERTONES – DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO
The men behind Talking Heads reunited for an album last year, and contrary to must reunion acts, it kicked a$$ instead of sucking. This song is a thin slice of heaven.

Do you have any suggestions for the next playlist? Leave Alexis a comment below.

Is your workout playlist stuck on repeat? Here's a spring workout playlist filled with old and new tracks to get your headphones (and body!) jumping.

11TH DIMENSION – JULIAN CASABLANCAS
Bummed that The Strokes are on hiatus? Me too...until I heard this album. 1/3 prog rock + 1/3 electro + 1/3 indie = a party in your ears...wooOOOoooOOoo!

LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES – WILSON PICKETT
The #1 track that makes your Uncle Barry do the twist at family weddings.

THE SEED 2.0 – THE ROOTS FEATURING CODY CHESNUTT
Hot lyrics, a wicked bass line and Cody ChesnuTT’s soulful voice still make this song a booty shaker five years later.

GOOD VIBRATIONS – MARKY MARK
A definitive 90’s track from Mr. Six Pack himself to remind you that crop tops are back “in.” Now where did I put that ab roller?

I LOVE THE BLOODY BEETROOTS – RADIO EDIT – THE BLOODY BEETROOTS
Stuck in a workout rut? Put this song on and watch your heart raise 10 beats per minute. Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re in a German festival tent – can you say gute zeiten?!?

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND – JAY-Z & ALICIA KEYS
Working towards a big goal? Imagine running the NYC Marathon and hearing this as you cross the Brooklyn Bridge....instant goosebumps.

WOMAN (MSTRKRFT REMIX) – WOLFMOTHER
www.bada$$.com, plain and simple. Take it from someone who knows: guitar slides hurt on pavement.

I WANNA LIFE – GOLDFRAPP
Try to not to overhand clap while you’re running….it’s harder than it sounds.

TENDERNESS – GENERAL PUBLIC
Quite possibly the most fun music from the 80’s never on a John Hughes soundtrack.

I’M NOT GOING TO TEACH YOUR BOYFRIEND HOW TO DANCE WITH YOU (THE TWELVES REMIX) – THE BLACK KIDS
This song will get stuck in your head for days. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

SANS SOLEIL – MIIKE SNOW
This Swedish duo make tunes perfect for cooling down post-workout - put this on & feel some bliss come your way.

GIVE IT TO ME BABY – RICK JAMES
I’m fresh out of excuses for this. Whatever – just give it to me? (Sorry, that was bad even for me).

PARANOID – KANYE WEST FEATURING KID CUDI
Okay, so he storms awards show stages and abuses the CAP lock key on his computer. This song is good. Like really, really, REALLY good.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE (NAIVE MELODY) – TALKING HEADS
Talking Heads make some of the happiest music on the planet. Play on your bike ride home from yoga to extend the serenity all day long.

IF I KNOW YOU – THE PRESETS
A pulsing beat and otherworldly vocals (you may feel like an extra in Blade Runner) will make this a favourite. If you ever get the chance to see The Presets live, make it happen – they’re goooood.

HOT BLOODED – FOREIGNER
If you’ve got a problem with this song, you’ve got a problem with yourself.

EVENFLOW – PEARL JAM
Have you seen how much Eddie Vedder sweats in concert?

BLIND (FRANKIE KNUCKLES REMIX) – HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR

May this song come with a disclaimer: just because you like music from Ibiza doesn’t mean you should wear white linen pants 24/7.

What tunes make you sweat 110%?

View some running gear:

• Run: Swiftly Racerback
• Run: Willpower Pullover
• Run: Ambition Crop

Above: Tiffany takes the Run: Flow Thru Dress for a spin!

I have to be thoroughly honest with you.

I'm not exactly what you would call a 'hardcore' runner. When it comes to my running program, the words snow, rain, cold, or anything else unpleasant simply do not have a place. Summer running is where it's at.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I actually really like running. I really, really like running when I am wearing the brightest, coolest and most functional pieces on the running market. Who wouldn't? This is why I love lululemon!

For instance, my first outing of the running season was this past Monday, and I decided to sport the new Run: Flow Thru Dress. For me, this dress was a match made in runner's heaven. It's fun, cute, and made with Silverescent technology. The dress upheld its Flow Thru name – the air flowed right 'thru', and kept me cool during my 5km – which felt more like 50km!

Like some, my iPod is my running companion. I'm not a person who can run and talk at the same time – my breath will simply not have it. The amazing thing about lululemon run gear is it harbors all sorts of gadgets and gizmos for your running routine. The Run: Flow Thru Dress has a handy pocket near the small of the back – perfect for a key, map, or in my case, a running mate!

On that note, I'm looking for some new music to keep me company. I know there are others out there like me… what are your favourite running tunes? (Leave me a comment below).

Now for all you summer runners out there (and all you hardcore ones too!), I pronounce the 'official' running season open!