It’s that time again. A new year. A fresh start. A list of resolutions a mile long.
If you are a human being, chances are that somewhere on that list is “GET FIT!” “MOVE MORE!” “CLEAN OUT THE GARAGE!” I can’t help you with the last one, but we can probably get a jump on the first two while the ink on that paper is still wet.
This year, let’s try something different. Let’s make things fun. Let’s take the pressure off and lighten the mood. Make yourself a promise to do something every single day. Even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Even if it’s silly or doesn’t seem like serious exercise or you laugh all the way through (like I do in my Aqua Zumba class.) Just. Keep. Moving. The more you do the more that you will want to do, and the fitness part will fall into place.
Think outside the box
There are all sorts of activities out there that you may not have considered, or even heard of. I just noticed that my gym is offering slacklining – kinda like tightrope walking, but the “rope” is a length of webbing and, although it’s under tension, it’s not so taut that it’s rigid. Make sense? Anyway, it’s not a workout, per se, but it will do wonders for your agility and balance.
Born to be Wild
I know a group of seemingly well-behaved women that have joined an adult hockey league. And, get this, most of them are playing hockey for the very first time. Isn’t that crazy? I love reading their tweets and Facebook updates because they sound like they are having so much FUN. (And, shhh… don’t tell them, but it’s fantastic exercise.)
(Don’t) act your age
I don’t know about you, but I can’t walk past a hopscotch course without giving it a go. Besides temper tantrums and running around the back yard naked, I can’t think of much else that’s off limits to the over-5 set.
Playground games are not just fun, they’ll get your heart pumping and make you feel like a kid again. Hula hooping, skipping rope (remember how good you were at Double-Dutch?), swinging from the monkey bars – they all count.
Need proof? Go to a Cross Fit class. It’s a room full of men and women doing silly things like climbing ropes and crab-walking. And they are serious about it.
Opposites Attract
Mix up your routine with exercises that complement each other and balance out the body. If you are a runner, there’s a chance that flexibility isn’t your thing. So, try a yoga class to open up those hips and give your legs a well-deserved stretch.
If you are crazy about pilates, think about weight training to take advantage of your awesome core strength. Love spinning? Take a kettleball class to improve your upper body strength. Think yin and yang. Ernie and Bert. Cake and oh, nevermind.
Rediscover an old love
Did you love swimming as a child? Maybe you were on the school badminton team. What was it that made you say, “Just one more lap… just 10 more minutes…”? Do that. Drop in at your local pool and do a few laps.
Dust off the golf clubs and head to the driving range. I’m not going to sugar-coat this – you might not be great at first – but it will come back. And so will that great feeling that you used to get when the wind was in your pigtails and you were out there feeling invincible.
What you are planning for 2014? Did you get any cool equipment for Christmas or decide to join a gym?
Comment below – I would love to hear what everyone is up to in the New Year.
Be Well…Rebecca
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