Ultimate Workout

Workouts have come along way since Olivia Newton-John implored us all to get physical, and Diana Ross committed to vinyl her desire for muscles — these days, any trip to the gym requires a sophisticated command of diet, style, and audio-motivation . . . so we decided to solve the musical side of that equation with these best-ever, sweat-inducing, hotter-than-Beyoncé's-buns Ultimate Workout Essentials. So warm up with some Black Eyed Peas ("Rock That Body"), go all elliptical with Lady Gaga (Chew Fu's "Bad Romance remix"), and pump some serious iron with Rihanna (The Wideboys Club Mix of "Don't Stop the Music").

Old rockers, young sirens, and a band of Killers — our Ultimate Workout posse is on your trail, in Next Steps.

If you were rockin' sweat pants the first time Survivor made us view the stationary bicycle through the "Eye of the Tiger", you might want to try something less strenuous than a workout — like dominoes — but if you're up to the task, the track's power chords remain a motivational force to reckon with. If you can keep pace with the Manhattan Clique Remix Radio Edit of Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" then you've already taken your gym work to Olympic levels, but if you want to push it even harder, the Armin Van Buuren Club mix of the Killers' "Human" will invest you with superheroic levels of energy. All you slackers, take heed of Mr. Scruff: "Get a Move On!"

Samantha James and Ms. Dynamite will keep you energized till you hit the shower . . . in Deep Cuts.

Prepare to feel the boost of a major endorphin surge, as your body transfers the stress of your workout into feelings of supreme well-being . . . and you can match that sensation with the euphoric sound of Samantha James, remixed and extended by Kaskade, on "Waves of Change". But before you hit the shower, you've got to wring every last ounce of energy from your bones, and to assist you in that task we've commandeered the combined workout ultra-force of Groove Armada (the Zombie Disco Squad remix of "Paper Romance"), Remady, soaring towards cool-down with "No Superstar (Daz Bailey Remix)" and DJ Zinc, backed by Ms. Dynamite on "Wile Out".

20th Century sci-fi fans used to look forward to the day when, some time shortly after the year 2010, the only workout humankind ever needed would come in pill form. Alas, the future is now, and we've still got to pump it, stretch it, and flex it harder than ever — which is why we compiled these Ultimate Workout Essentials. If you want to bust a move old school, leg-warmer'd up to your walnut coloured thighs, we've lined up Eric Prydz ("Call on Me") and the Jacksons ("Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)". Fancy keeping pace with Tinchy Stryder, or want your sweat beads to sparkle along with Marina and the Diamonds? We've got you covered. Robbie Williams, Cheryl Cole, Madonna, Tiesto, Timbaland, Timberlake . . . these are your ultimate gym buddies: go and show them what you're made of.