J often tells me to go for a walk or run to “get the evil out” (he often says the same about Dee which is why she usually comes with me…..). Though exercise can be good for draining energy as a means to get you to a saner place, one doesn’t want to be drained constantly. Sometimes you need to tap into what you are feeling and there’s an app exercise for that.
One of the things I love most about working in the fitness field is options. No one (not even us fitness professionals) feels the same every single day. With all the daily physical and emotional fluctuations that come with being human, it is a major accomplishment to keep to a routine at all. So don’t be so hard on yourself if that workout that felt so great yesterday doesn’t feel as great today. The most important part of learning how to be a more active individual is the skill of adaptation. Knowing what your body needs and being able to move accordingly. It takes a little practice but the more you tune in (or tune out when the situation calls for it), the more adept you’ll become.
Here are a few ways to make your workout work for you:
-Play with intensity: Tabata and HIIT training might feel great on days when you’ve slept well and are feeling on top of your game, but may wear you down to the point of unhelpfulness when you are a bit under the weather. Instead of pushing through and depleting your reserves, why not focus on some slow steady strength work while incorporating some balance? Work with your body, not against it.
-Consider the scenery: Have you been cooped up in an office for days on end and don’t feel like being cooped up in a gym? Take your workout outside. Even when the weather is less than ideal, it is important to attune with nature. Whether you can see the sunset over a mountain or simply catch the few rays of sun that creep through the city skyline, being outdoors brings benefits beyond physical health.
-Fine tune your footing: Mentally, that is. Have you been in your head over the same problem for days on end? A run might be just what the doctor ordered to shift awareness outward. Have you been dealing with external pressures and lost touch with what you truly need? Take yourself to yoga class to reconnect and reboot.
Even though it was chilly T opted for a little fresh air……