Full uncool disclosure: The first time I encountered Pitbull’s music wasn’t at some South Beach club partying with the beautiful Miamians. It wasn’t even at a local hangout dancing with beautiful Houstonians. The first time I heard Mr. World Wide, was when he coaxed me to: “Give Me Everything” while I was ugly sweating at the gym.
Here’s a Pitbull tidbit you might not know. Gyms love Pitbull. He’s everywhere, in every room, blasting from speakers as we run the treadmills, lift weights, and cross train or cardio dance in group classes.
But Tuesday night at his rodeo concert, I realized that it’s not just that Armando Christian Pérez gives great beat for ramping up that heart rate. Live, he really becomes the ultimate exercise instructor, especially for a class of 72,149 (the largest thus far at this year's RodeoHouston). He and his dancers put themselves through the optimum cardio dance party while throwing in some strength training.
If you had to miss the concert or just want to relive it, using Pitbull and dancers’ moves, I’ve put together a replay of their workout for you to try at home. So open up your favorite Pitbull music streamer. Put on the coolest workout clothes ever, a black suit and sunglasses, and let’s sweat our butts off with the (Mr.) 305 workout.
A Note on Equipment
For the true rodeo workout experience, it would help to have a giant revolving stage, but on the off chance one is not available, just try to rotate around the room while doing these exercises. It would also be helpful to have some stairs nearby because instructor World Wide will demand we do the occasional stair run.
“Pretty Woman”
Spend a few moments stretching as a warm up because that’s basically what the dancers did, warm up the stage for Pitbull.
“Don’t Stop the Party”
Now we really begin. Turn all the lights off for a dramatic moment then on. Set off some fireworks from the floor as you jump into the room to start this workout party. We won’t stop for at least an hour. There seemed to be some sort of revolving stage mishap for this first song, so run around the room counter clockwise, stop and then go clockwise.
“International Love”
Following the dancers’ lead we’re really going to work our glutes on this one. Bend over and shake that ass as Pitbull raps his about his loves across the globe.
“Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)”
This song introduces a signature Pitbull workout move that’s going to tone those legs while bringing up our heart rate, the whole body jump. We’ll want to maintain a slight bend in our knees when we land, but simply just jump up and down. That’s it. We’ll try some different arm positions in later songs, but for now you can just leave them at your sides or flail them around as we jump to the “Oooh baby, baby” beat.
“Rain Over Me”
By now, we should have some glistening foreheads like Pitbull when he introduces another integral move to our routine, the hip thrust. This can be done with open or closed legs, but to see the best results we’ll want to put some real power into those thrusts. Mirroring the Pitbull dancers, we also have the option of working our neck as we whip our long hair around. End this song with a sexy smirk.
“Vivir La Vida” and “Danza Kuduro”
Now we’ll begin to combine moves as we jump, hip thrust and occasionally salsa when we need to lower the intensity. Imagine Pitbull giving the first of many pep talks reminding us that it doesn’t matter what our differences are. We can come together with music as an international language. Positivity will get us through our life and through this workout.
“Bon Bon”
Pitbull continues to motivate by telling us how Houstonians have amazing energy. We’ll need all that energy as we again do as the dancers do and begin our squat series. Wiggling that ass as we squat will add intensity, in a multitude of ways.
“Fireball”
Time for those stair climbs. Up and down we go. Pause at the bottom for 30 seconds of twerking. Then, let’s bring that heart rate down a bit with a great bicep and pec isolation exercise, the air guitar move.
“Calle Ocho”
We have a choice here. We can go back to jumps or we can use Pitbull’s series of eight counts to hold a position. I recommend the plank to chisel that six pack. When we stand up, let’s adjust those sunglasses. If you haven’t already, for god’s sake shed that jacket, Pitball has.
“I Like It”
Add upper body work with our jumps by fist punching into the air. Make sure you have a Pitbull approved black towel to mop up your sweat.
“Timber”
Are you remembering to breathe? If not, screaming like 70,000 people chanting “Timber” together through NRG stadium will force you to inhale some oxygen. Let’s also return to our sexy squats and air punches.
“Give Me Everything”
This is it. My first sound taste of Pitbull takes us out as he commands us to drain the tank and give him everything we have. We’ll put all our moves together, fist pump jump, squat, hip thrust, while Pitbull thanks us for being with him.
No Pitbull, thank you. I think I lost 20 pounds.
Spend a few moments stretching as a warm up because that’s basically what the dancers did, warm up the stage for Pitbull.
