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For the most part, I enjoy exercise; have always been active so most days it’s not hard to get my workout done. BUT the truth is that there are days every so often that if I was not a fitness instructor with morning classes to teach, it would be easy to say not today. You know me. I tell it like it is and for me to say I never struggle every so often would be a lie. Lucky for me though I do enjoy and crave exercise so those days don’t happen very often.
There are reasons, GOOD reasons, why people exercise or go to the gym. What motivates them to stay on track? How do they make themselves take a walk in the morning before work or hit the gym in the afternoon before dinner? And the most important question? How can we be like them?
Last week, I was chatting with Cathy after yoga class. Cathy used to write healthy living articles for the newspaper I write for. She said I have a topic for you if you ever draw a blank on what to write about. I told her after writing an article every week for several years, there are definitely weeks where I’m racking my brain trying to figure out what to write. This is one of those weeks so I’m VERY grateful to Cathy for mentioning this topic.
What IS the best exercise for you?
I have been asked by people what the best exercise would be for them. Is it okay if they take this class or that class. Should a woman lift weights? What about personal trainers? Should I talk to one? Is CrossFit or yoga too hard for someone my age? Cathy hit the nail on the head when she said the best exercise for YOU is one that you will ENJOY doing no matter where you are in your fitness journey. And to find that exercise you enjoy doing, you simply have to try them out until you find the one for you.
It goes for anything. If you enjoy what you are doing, you will be more likely to do it. From exercise to jobs, if you have fun doing it, you stick with it. What happens when you are miserable at work? You call in sick or quit. Same thing when it comes to exercise. It’s REAL easy to call in sick or even quit when it’s time to get your daily workout in when you are not having fun.
Those people you see walking or at the gym pretty much every day? They have found what they enjoy doing. For me, I enjoy fitness classes because not only are the folks in these classes friends I enjoy seeing, they keep me accountable too. Try not showing up for a class without telling your fitness friends you won’t be there. They will say we missed you yesterday because they notice when you are not there.
For others, they prefer time to themselves. Walking the dog, hiking, training for events or other exercise that can be done alone gives them that time they need to decompress and relax. And still others prefer more powerful types of exercise like boxing, CrossFit or martial arts. They like the challenge these types of activities give them.
Simply keep trying new exercises, classes, gyms, studios, outdoors or indoors until you find what works best for YOU. Once you find it, making yourself exercise won’t be a problem again. Have a wonderful week!
To your health,
Denise
