Fitness Rut Rescue!
Every once in a while, you may find yourself uninspired with your fitness life, where workouts seem blah. Maybe you are unenthused about the gym, procrastinating when it comes to exercise or flake on your workouts all together. Here are my top five “Pull Yourself Out of a Fitness Rut” tips:
Buy New Clothing or Gear
I recently bought a new bamboo yoga mat and it made me super excited to take yoga class again. Some may say this is shallow, but it worked. (I also bought lavender essential oil to add to my bathwater, which made me excited to workout and THEN take a bath!) Sneakers, sports bras and a new gym bag could have the same effect for you. See what’s gotten a little dated in your workout gear and replace it with something that makes your heart sing. (Yes, it is retail therapy, okay? I admit it.)
Take It Outside
‘Tis always the season to venture outside. Fresh air, new scenery, new fitness challenge. Nature is calling! Go sledding, hiking, horseback riding or you can run outside or cycle on the open road. I have a cute little screened-in porch and I do my 5 minute morning meditation there, even in the winter – that counts I think!
Buddy Up
People can absolutely take you out of an exercise rut (maybe this should be #1). You can partner with a buddy and go for a long hike or take a Pilates duet OR you can enlist a personal trainer to give you new exercises and spruce up your routine. When I power walk with my house flipper friend, Sarah, we walk up and down the high-end section of our neighborhood, analyzing the landscaping and décor. Let me tell you – time flies. Before we know it, I’ve learned all about Edwardian era architecture and we’ve been zipping along for two hours. Friends really are the best.
Do a One-Off
Salsa class? 5K road race? One-off's are events that come around every once in a while, that just happen to burn calories and provide a workout. What's going on in your neighborhood these days? My sister took a weekend–long tennis clinic recently that rocked her world. I'm fond of the annual “swim across the lake” tradition on Memorial Day that kicks off summer up at Lake Waramaug, a special place where my family has a weekend get-away cottage.
Go on a Retreat
Retreats are all the rage right now in the wellness world. Everyone wants to “get away from it all” and focus inward. Doesn’t that sound heavenly? Life has become bonkers if you ask me, and stress levels have never been so high. You may opt to go to a formal spa, like where I live in the United States – Canyon Ranch or The Ashram, or a retreat center, like Kripalu and Omega. Look into your local boutique fitness gyms and studios – they often offer annual retreats that immerse participants into physical practice.
The writer, Johan von Goethe, said, “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden”. This is true for life, for art and for your workout. Remember, not exercising is not really an option for Smart Healthy Women, so, how are you going to break out of your exercise rut?
About the author
Ellen Barrett, M.A., is a best-selling exercise DVD creator and book author, known internationally as a go-to expert for women’s wellness. Her latest DVD is Fusion Floor Workout. For additional information about Ellen, her workouts and retreats, please visit her website or you can friend her on facebook and follow her on twitter .
