Embrace change…escape the gym

I don’t mean stop exercising. I mean exercise differently and get off your plateau.  As creatures of habit it is all too easy to get into a routine at the gym and continue to do the same kind of workouts over and over again and still think that because you are making it to the gym then that is enough. I’m guilty of this myself especially since I train other people but no one is there to kick my own butt. So every few weeks I reassess how hard I’m actually working and then kick it up a notch.  But I also pay attention to how my workout makes me feel afterward. If I’m overly sore and my energy level is low than I know it’s time
to give my body more recovery time.

If you find that you are losing interest in your workouts, they are no longer challenging and you are not seeing anymore results than it’s time to change it up.
There are many ways to vary your method of exercising. Try adding a bit more weight and doing less reps. If you are used to using a barbell, try free weights or do an entire workout with a resistance band.  Incorporate declines and inclines. Run up and down a hill instead of always staying on the flat trail. Try some plyometric exercises. Rev up your cardio by doing timed intervals. If you go on vacation try walking, running and doing lunges in the sand. You will have to engage a lot more of your muscles for this kind of workout.  Try exercising on a Bosu, stability ball or balance disc to improve your overall balance and work the stabilizer muscles. Try a class if you are always used to being in the gym.  Consider doing a few sessions with a trainer to learn some new ways of doing things and keep you tuned into your form.

Keep it fun and fresh so you can stay motivated toward your goals.  Just remember to listen to your body and give yourself time for active recovery.  Have a great week of exercise 🙂

Exercise for relief of anxiety

Coming from someone that suffers from anxiety, I can tell you that exercise is one of the greatest, natural ways to relieve those feelings.  Studies have proven that exercise can provide effective relief from anxiety and continue long after a workout is over.

 It doesn’t necessarily have to be strenuous exercise that will help cleanse your mind, but rather something that takes the focus off anxious thoughts.  I tend to be a “catastrophizer” so I require workouts that will allow my brain to drain itself of worry.

Mountain biking on difficult terrain keeps my mind tuned in to every little obstacle and I know if I don’t stay focused I will end up off my bike.  Yoga is another amazing way to become aware of your mind, body connection.  It really is a wonderful cleanse for the mind.  If you are into dancing, you will find so many great benefits there, especially if you have to learn some choreography.  You won’t even notice the workout and the social aspect alone can do wonders for anxiety relief.  The focus required of any workout will decrease overall levels of tension, improve mood, help you sleep better and will no doubt improve your self esteem.

I continually encourage my clients to try to get a workout in when they are really feeling the ill effects of stress. One of my clients just sent me a text to tell me that she just completed an hour long workout and she feels so much better. 🙂  She said she could share this feeling with me because she knows I will get it.   It sounds like she is enjoying a good endorphin high! 🙂

I hope that if there is something weighing heavily on your shoulders you can surely find some relief in moving your body.