The workout beat: What's the best BPM for you?

Studies have shown that listening to music that fits the cadence of what you're doing can make you work harder. But different types of exercise call for different tempos (beats per minute, or BPMs). Workout music website Motion Traxx offers this rough guide to use when building your playlist.

Power walking: 120-145 BPM

Elliptical, stair climber: 130-150 BPM

Indoor cycling: 130-160 BPM

Jogging: 135-155 BPM

Running: 155-180 BPM

Your ideal tempo will depend on your stride length, so take some time to experiment.

If your running pace is a 12:00 mile, your target BPM is 150.

If your running pace is a 10:00 mile, your target BPM is 160.

If your running pace is a 9:00 mile, your target BPM is 175.

If your running pace is a 8:00 mile, your target BPM is 200.