Get Moving!

(February 2010) - It seems like only yesterday the New Year began and we all made resolutions to stick to workout routines, but oftentimes by mid-February we find ourselves lagging behind. There are many possible reasons for this, but two stand out: motivation and convenience.

Motivating yourself to hit the gym day after day can be challenging. One of the very best ways to maintain your workout routine, and enthusiasm, is to buddy up with a friend who also wants to improve their health. Commit to a certain day of the week to try your new routine. Focus on a small goal like working out every Wednesday or walking 2 times a week at first, rather than an end result (like losing 10 lbs) in order to stay motivated.

The other major hindrance that many of us face is issue of not selecting the routine that best fit our lives and needs. One of the most difficult things about taking on a new workout regimen is finding something that you truly enjoy and want to repeat. Check out a few fun options below that may just reignite that commitment.

• Improve posture with Pilates: Do you often suffer back, neck and joint pain? Many people who give Pilates a try have reported alleviated pain in these areas, in addition to improved flexibility, range of motion, posture, and abdominal strength. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20 th century, the method focuses on lengthening the body and strengthening the core of the body to support the spine.

• Stretch it out with yoga: While yoga is probably most well known from the seemingly strange position names such as “downward dog,” the poses have a very clear goal: to increase flexibility and lubrication of joints, ligaments, and tendons. Sounds great, doesn’t it? The methods date back all the way to the Hindu religion in B.C., which tells us they may be onto something…

• Dancing the night away: Even if you feel like you have two left feet, sometimes a structured dance class can help you build the skills to break free from your hesitation. Classes like Zumba, which combines Latin dance with aerobics, keep your heart pumping and your feet tapping. Or, if you can find a willing partner, ballroom dance offers a fun, yet classic, way to get moving. And if all else fails, turn on a CD or plug in your MP3 player while doing household chores and have a little dance party while you work.

• Walk it out: If you find yourself lacking the time or motivation to head to the gym, commit to at least walking at lunch. It’s not just an efficient way to work in some exercise—it also boosts your energy to avoid sluggishness in the afternoon and gives your metabolism a little jump-start.

These ideas are a few examples of workouts that you can do with friends or family, and easily work into your life. Having a partner to motivate you and flexibility in your routine to ensure you have the time to incorporate it into any hectic day will help ensure your continued success.