1. Do it faster. We can make the whole workout at a faster pace, or we can add bursts of speed to our cardio or weight workout. The body gets surprised, the brain has to work a bit more, and everyone is tired and happy at the end!
2. Make it unstable. We can do whatever it is we’re doing on a BOSU, stability ball, turntable, squishy mat. We can work one side of the body at a time. We can try standing on one leg and then the other. Sometimes it’s as simple as running on the beach where the sand is not nearly as regular as the surface of the treadmill. Instability recruits our core more. We have to concentrate. We learn stuff!
3. Put it in water. This can be a literal adaptation, as in we can do water walking or water running or water aerobics instead of land walking, running, or aerobics, or we can just try swimming as a switch from our usual cardio. One of the great things about swimming is that it compels us to consider the breath, which is essential to our wellbeing.
4. Switch teachers. Sure, we are comfortable in that yoga/spin/bootcamp/Zumba/Tabata class. We’ve been taking it every Thursday for a year now. Comfortable, for the body, is an invitation to avoid change, growth, and development. See what a different play list or series of exercises does to wake up body and mind.
5. Try our friends’ workouts. Maybe our buddy has been going on and on about that amazing bike ride. Maybe she’ll shut up if we just try it. And maybe it will, in fact, be just as amazing for us. Or maybe another friend loves yoga. Get him to take you along. Worst case, you get to hang out with a friend.
6. Take it outside. Or inside. If we always work out indoors, we could use a little fresh air. If we’ve been outside so much that we’re functionally feral, maybe we could enjoy the air conditioning for a bit.
As always, be safe and have fun.
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