Working in the health and fitness industry one sees the constant struggle for individuals to keep to a fitness routine. Why is that? There are all kinds of reasons, work, family, life changes and even weather is often cited.
I’ve explored the topic earlier in “Stick to the Routine” and also talked in a previous post about the importance of finding your passion above a prize in exercise. Let’s look at how you can revitalize your program with variety in mind.
Changing up your routine can be a source of renewed inspiration to your exercise commitment. While there are many ways, I’ve chosen these three benefits to explore.
- Injury Prevention
- Kick the boredom factor
- Build new muscles
Injury Prevention
Preventing overuse of muscles is a key factor in injury prevention. Simply said if you do the same thing day in and day out the risk for damage is higher. Think of athletes and dancers who must do alternate modalities of movement to stay at peak performance level. Great examples of this are dancers who do Pilates, football players doing resistance training and cyclists that swim and musicians who train in Alexander Technique, all cross-training examples.
As Sally Wadyka writing for One Medical Group says:
“By mixing up your activities, you give those overused muscles, joints, and ligaments a chance to rest and recover before putting them into action again.”
If you are not taking care that your activity of choice is creating repetitive- strain type injuries, you might end up sitting on the side lines more than participating in your favorite exercise program. Obviously, that takes its toll both on your mental outlook as well as your physical health. This might in turn affect your eating habits which create even more additional stress.
Think of your alternate training as your physical insurance program. Something more long-term and provides support to all the other investments you are already making.
Kick the boredom factor
Changing up your routine can also help fight the boredom factor. Maybe you just lost your mojo for getting outdoors, taking a class and or heading to the gym. By having either a new workout partner, new activity or other exercise program that spirit could return.
If boredom is your issue, here’s some food for thought.
- Do something completely out of your element, like Zumba or Tap Dance
- Do a water activity if you are a runner, cyclist or hiker
- Try Pilates or Yoga if you are consistently training in one sport or activity
- Get outside for your workouts instead of the gym
- Pick up a new hobby that gets you more active like gardening
- Take a lesson in a new activity from a highly skilled instructor
Whether you decide to stick with the new experiment doesn’t matter. It might just be the catalyst to renewed appreciation for the one you are currently doing. Or doing both might turn out to raise the pleasure factor higher. All wins.
Build new muscles
While I adore my Classical Pilates’ routines and hiking, I recently started taking a weight training session with a highly experienced trainer. I wasn’t particularly bored with my current training, but I felt I wasn’t seeing results of physical improvement and tended to fall back on routines I did frequently out of habit. This new type of training forced me to do many things in which I’m less skilled in and create new muscular patterns of movement. It also brought some freshness back to Pilates.
It definitely got me out of my comfort zone. It also gave me a new appreciation for how someone else translates movement into a student’s body, especially when the age difference is significant.
Items to keep in mind if choosing a new instructor or new program:
- Ask for proof of certification
- Research above credentials
- Talk with them be clear on expectations and chronic issues
- Check years of experience teaching a variety of clients
- Watch them teach and interact
- If your body is completely trashed after the workout, huge warning sign!
- With above point either speak with them for adjustments or try someone else
- Keep a dialogue and be open to change
Final Note
Whatever reasons you have for needing renewed vigor and vim towards exercise remember change can be your friend. While it may not always be “comfy” it can be an incredible positive boon to your health.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy
Krisna’s book “Finding Lifestyle Sanity: A Survival Guide” is available here.
