September is typically a time of change, with kids going back to school and summer coming to a close, but perhaps no year has brought more of a fall shift than this one. With people looking at heading back into their offices partially or full-time, it appears for now that regular life is continuing to pick back up, and with it, our regular routines. Whether you’ve found an at-home or outdoor workout regimen you enjoy over the last year or just dropped your regimen altogether, now is a great time to head back to school with a little Fitness 101.
Below, we’ve got three tips for relearning the ins and outs of building a routine that’s healthy, effective, and sustainable.
Build gradually
If you’ve set your fitness goals on the backburner for the last year and a half in favor of keeping your head above water, we totally get it. Which is why for those dipping their toe back into the fitness world, it’s important to start small and build gradually, so that you don’t burn out before your body is where you want it to be or, more importantly, end up injuring yourself.
Group fitness classes with people at your skill level are a great way to do exactly that. The team at FXB will help build a fitness plan with you, which is especially helpful so that you’re not left to guess at the right avenues for you. Once you consistently get going and start to build muscle and endurance, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can start to up the ante in your workouts and either get back to where you were before, or hopefully, get a little further.
Hold yourself accountable
Skipping workouts can be a slippery slope, and when working out in your home with just you to keep yourself accountable, it’s all too easy to let your routine slide. If this is the case, look at options to head back to the gym this fall to attend classes that you can keep track of on your calendar—and even better, at smaller more personal gyms like Farrell’s, it’s easier to build a sense of community among your fellow members, which is an important source of motivation to keep getting your butt to class.
Explore new activities
A new school year means a fresh slate, and a perfect opportunity to look at workouts and activities you haven’t explored before. If you’re bored with running the treadmill or spending endless time on the elliptical, think about trying something more engaging and effective like kickboxing and specialized strength training. There are endless activities that result in a good workout outside of the traditional gym—all that’s required is thinking a little outside of your comfort zone.
We firmly believe that going to the gym should never be a drag, which is why we’re proud to provide a space where everyone is welcome, no matter your skill or fitness levels. We’ve found that people are more likely to see results and hold themselves accountable if the workout is something they genuinely enjoy, which is why it’s key to explore your options and figure out which workout avenue feels right to you.
