And yes, you can do it to an Olivia Newton John song!
But more importantly, you can get physical in your life. Winter is finally past
– the weather is turning balmy. No more hibernating!
The time has come to get out there and move your body. And before you doubt whether or not you have the time or money to invest, I have awesome news: exercise requires much less time than you think, and it doesn’t need to break your budget.
The time has come to get out there and move your body. And before you doubt whether or not you have the time or money to invest, I have awesome news: exercise requires much less time than you think, and it doesn’t need to break your budget.
It’s natural to become less active in winter: between the
cold and the lack of sun, we often hide out. But as spring brings us fragrant
showers and extended daylight, the desire to get out and move increases. So
take advantage of this energy, and let’s talk about movement!
Ready to get muscled
up? The new craze in fitness is Crossfit.
While it’s a company name, Crossfit is also a culture of people looking to get
strong while enjoying a social environment. It’s not for those who don’t want
to work hard: every workout will push you harder than anything you’ve ever experienced
before. But workouts are done in a group,
with a leader. And the end results are amazing. Crossfit gyms are located all
over the United States, and you might be surprised to find one very close to
you. They are not traditional gyms, so I suggest visiting one before signing
up. Crossfit-like gyms are popping up as well, and they have similar workouts,
but are often less expensive.
Prefer to tighten,
tone, and have fun doing it? Group fitness may be the ticket! If you like
to dance, there’s Zumba.
If self-defense has been your passion, check out kickboxing. If you like to try something
new every week, investigate the many classes that are on the schedule at your
local gym. And if getting out to the gym isn’t a possibility for you right now,
videos are available online for a small
fee. And if the quality of the video isn’t a big deal, YouTube has many free videos that
you can browse.
Wanna go it old-school?
Bodyweight exercises, walking, and running are great ways to move the body. Walking
can be just as valuable as running for your heart health and body movement.
And using only your bodyweight to train your muscles can be surprisingly effective.
Skip the gym – you can keep your body in top shape at home! Check out Zuzka Light and You Are Your Own Gym author Mark
Lauren for ideas on what might work best for you.
Belonging to a gym is not a requirement for health, but moving
your body and maintaining your flexibility is. You don’t have to spend hours
every day working out – short, effective routines can be just as valuable.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s fun! When we enjoy exercise, we’re more
likely to do it. So try some different classes, discover what works best for
you, and come back and let us know what you love!
Contributing Writer