An exercise routine should not be routine

In life we try to find balance between work and home as well as with friends and family. Well the same balance is needed in our workout routines. We tend to gravitate towards the same workouts because of its familiarity and/or specificity in regards to our training goals, or recreational activities. This can cause us to fall into a “rut” and decrease the effectiveness of our workouts as well as increase our chances of injury.

When you perform the same exercises repeatedly over time your muscles adapt to that specific exercise becoming more efficient, therefore it takes more time and/or intensity in order to achieve the same results. If you are a treadmill junky a great way to mix up your workout is to split the time you would spend on the treadmill with a bike, rower, or stair climber.  Also, introducing strength training twice a week will compliment your cardio routine as well as help to reduce risk of injury.

Utilizing the services of your gym and staff can help to add variety you’re your routine. Group fitness classes are a great way to introduce new cardio and strength training without fumbling around with unfamiliar equipment and risking injury or discouragement. If you are already starting to experience issues that have to do with overuse, muscle imbalance, or just want to mix up your routine the knowledge and experience of a personal trainer is invaluable. This professional can help to identify weaknesses and problem areas, as well as setup a program that compliments your fitness goals.

No matter if you are a seasoned fitness aficionado or the occasional gym attendee keeping variety in your routine will help you physically as well as maintain your interest and motivation.

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