14
Jan 11
In my last post, I gave you some strategies to employ when you’re training in your own space.
I know that the solitude of training at home just doesn’t work for some of you. I totally get it. For example, when I did that yoga class and had to keep my lips zipped for 90 minutes, it darned near killed me. The energy of a group can be motivating and really up the ‘fun factor’ with any kind of exercise.
Especially for the ‘non-exerciser’ or the beginner, the support and guidance of others is often what will carry you forward.
I wanted to give you four tips on finding the right place for you in a group setting:
Social Exerciser Tip #1 – Find the right exercise. There are a ton of things to do out there! You need to find the right fit for you. Obviously if you’re petrified of water, aqua size isn’t going to appeal to you. You may have to try out a few options before you find the right fit. It would be great if you could find a program that was ‘total body’ so to speak. You want a program to address the following fitness components in a timely manner:
· cardiovascular fitness
· core strength
· muscular strength and endurance
· flexibility
After all, it’s unlikely that you have 3 hours a day to devote to fitness, so do some research and find something that will include all these fitness parameters.
Social Exerciser Tip #2 – Find the right time and place. You may find what seems to be the perfect fitness solution, but if it takes you 30 minutes to get there or conflicts with other things on your schedule, it’s not going to happen on a regular basis. You need to find something that will fit into your day with the least amount of disruption because it’s often the thing that gets cut out first if it’s a bit of a bother.
Social Exerciser Tip #3 – Find the right group. Do you feel supported? Are you getting the instruction you need? Are your needs being met? A big box gym has a myriad of services and equipment, but if you don’t know what you’re doing or feel lost at the back of a jam packed class, your money and time are not well spent. Pay attention to the energy you feel in the group setting. This sometimes is overlooked and can be the ‘make or break’ factor. For example, if you don’t enjoy training along side men, or feel distracted by the ‘meat market’ mentality, you won’t make it a part of your day on any regular basis.
Social Exerciser Tip #4 – Have a plan! Whether you’re training at home or elsewhere, you need to make wise use of your time by coming to your workout with a plan in mind. Maybe this means taking advantage of someone else planning your workout for you, like a coach, trainer or instructor. If this is the case, ensure that you resonate with them and they know what they’re doing! You can’t afford injury or wasting your time doing things that won’t get you to your goals quickly. Research your instructor or program thoroughly so that you know you can trust your body in their capable hands.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t put in a plug for my boot camp program here.
For those of you in NW Calgary, you have the best program available to you. As well as my regular programs, an exciting six week transformation program is starting January 17th called Shawna 24/7. You can check them out here or contact me and I’ll get you information. Keep in mind too that if you can’t train with you, you can still be part of the Shawna 24/7 program.
Here’s a little video of a recent camp and I discuss the benefits of the group dynamic my program offers.
For those of you that can’t get to my camp, comment below and tell me where you’re located. I have a large circle of friends that run amazing programs in all parts of the world. I’m fortunate to rub shoulders with the best of the best. I’m part of Fit Body Boot Camp and chances are that if I don’t personally know a trainer near you, I can find one.
My passion is teaching people how to work fitness into their daily lifestyle in order to improve their quality of life. Let’s work together to help you reach your fitness goals!
