It’s been a while since we had options. Most of us have spent recent times doing the same things, with the same people, and we’ve all been stuck in our own Groundhog Day.
Humans are adaptive creatures. If we are exposed to the same stimuli repeatedly, we get bored. Switching things up in life keeps you energised and makes you feel happier.
Exercise needs to be varied too. Not just to relieve boredom, but to benefit physical well-being. Fusing diverse styles of exercise keeps your body on its toes challenging different muscles, ligaments and joints. Injuries are often caused by repetitive movements. Mixing things up balances out your body, aligns opposing muscle groups and prevents neglecting areas of fitness which can lead to injury.
So, what’s the perfect blend to aim for?
A mixture of cardio, strength and mobility is key to a well-rounded fitness plan and a happy, healthy body. I could chat for hours about each one, but you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve settled for summing them up instead!
Cardio exercise is any activity that raises your heart rate. There’s Aerobic and Anaerobic cardio both benefitting cardiac health. Aerobic could be a brisk walk, running or dancing – these will improve your endurance too. As for Anaerobic, think Sprints, Circuits or a HIIT class – anything that involves bursts of intense exercise, with periods of recovery. This burns fat and increases metabolism – a win, win, if weight loss is a goal.
Next, is Strength training which targets muscles and gets them working harder than usual. Weight-training, Low Impact Strength and Barre are targeted strength classes. Exercises like squats, press ups and lunges, with or without weights are fine examples. This type of exercise increases lean muscle which again boosts metabolism. Bone density also increases, a major plus-point in fighting osteoporosis, particularly helpful for women of a certain age! And strong muscles lead to good posture, and consequently, reduced back and neck pain, the perfect therapy for desk dwellers.
Finally, Mobility work, such as Yoga, Pilates, Barre and Stretching. These improve the mobility and range of motion of joints, to reduce the risk of injury. Once an afterthought for the ageing and injured, mobility sessions now hold high regard with all fitness fanatics who appreciate its rightful place in the exercise trilogy.
A bit of everything goes a long way. Don’t know where to start? Aim for one session a week of each. If you already exercise but have reached a plateau, or keep picking up little injuries, then it’s time to mix it up. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone – so find a new challenge, shake things up. After all, variety is the spice of life!