By Ansley Melnik, VIBE5 Fitness
Unprecedented. It’s the word we’ve heard to describe life these days for six months now. (We think the word “whack” might be better but let’s don’t digress.)
Since March, our community has experienced an unparalleled disruption to our health, our connection to family and friends and our routines. Nowhere is that more obvious than in our workouts.
Um, or maybe the lack of workouts? Just us?
Yep, even people whose job it is to inspire clients to move, get stronger and more centered have had a hard time during the pandemic. Finding the motivation to workout by ourselves is tough. Equipment, space, and hiding from kids and pets is challenging. The good news? This crisis doesn’t have to alter your physical fitness. But, for awhile at least, it 100% changes how you stay in shape.
Back in January, we threw on our sports bras, hit carpool and walked through the doors of our studio or gym. We got sixty minutes of sweaty, fun, exercise and left on endorphin highs. Our instructors encouraged and focused us and the energy of the person next to us pushed us to go harder and breathe deeper.
Fast forward to today where we’re working out alone staring at a screen and maybe the dust bunnies under the living room couch. There’s no one next to you to gripe and groan with and when did 60 minutes start to feel like two days? Welcome to fitness in 2020. Raise your hand if you hate it here. 🙋🏼♀️
If you’re still working out at home because of kiddos, or you’re just not ready to head back into group fitness quite yet, here are three ways to give your workouts a shot in the arm.
Pick a time of day to work out and look at it as an appointment you’d never cancel. Like getting your roots done. If you know your house is quiet from 6:30am until 7 or 7:30am, dedicate that time solely to your workout 3 to 6 days a week. We’ve all been there; “I’ll try to squeeze something in later, “ is the death knell for exercise.
Weather permitting, get outside. Sun salutations to the actual sun, mimics the energy you’d get from your yoga teacher and fellow practitioners. Strength training in your driveway removes distractions like those aforementioned dust bunnies and allows you to really focus on form and pushing hard. If your studio has a live stream or on demand library, grab your SPF and connect with instructors and classes you love and trust. While you’re at it, turn on that camera. It’ll hold you more accountable and make “leaving the meeting” early less likely.
Remember the old adage, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”? That applies to your workout too. It’s easy to workout in pj’s but if you want to get a serious workout in, get serious about your gear. Put on that good sports bra for bootcamp (hey, getting into it counts as part of your workout). Yoga pants for your practice will make sweaty binds and arm balances more secure. A pair of good, lightweight trainers will make lunges and squats safer for knees, ankles and shins. The mental boost you get when you have on something you feel confident in will take your workout to the next level.
Above all, remember that whatever you’re doing for yourself right now, whether it’s working out or sleeping in…give yourself a little grace. As we slowly move back into group fitness, we’re all starting over to some degree. Taking care of yourself and your family’s physical fitness will look different on different days. Take a HARD PASS on beating yourself up. Get rid of that scale, exercise in ways that bring you joy and eat intuitively. Hang in there team. You’re doing great.
720 Governor Morrison Street, Suite 140 E
Charlotte, NC 28211
(P)704.362.3311
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