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These days with so many forms of exercise and fitness training available, it can be difficult deciding what to choose, not to mention what will work the best for you. We can choose to join a traditional gym and workout with weight training machines, cardio machines and free weights, or we can go a different route and enroll in a martial arts or yoga class, or we can choose to do something even less conventional like join a hiking or mountain biking group. The important thing to remember is not so much that one form of exercise supercedes the other, but rather what exercise appeals to you the most, serves your needs, and is enjoyable to you. It won’t do you any good to join a running group if you despise running and always have for as long as you can remember, but did so because someone told you that is the best way to get in shape. Various forms of exercise are as different from one another as the people who participate in them. And rather than waste money committing to an activity that you won’t stick with, take a little time to research what’s available to you geographically, financially, time wise, and personality wise. Also, rather than jump in head first, take some time to sample activities. Any reputable company, activity, club or group should be happy to explain the details to you. Also, be realistic with yourself about what you will and can commit to. If your start work at 6 am, than planning to run before work probably isn’t the best idea. Aside from what you read in magazines and hear on TV about what you should be doing, try to concentrate on what you can do and remember to use progression. In other words, if you know that you should but won’t undergo a resistance training program, improve you eating habits, and begin jogging on the treadmill, it is better to commit to bike riding on your lunch hour. A few of the more popular classes available currently include: Pilates, yoga, cardio kickboxing, martial arts, rock climbing, swimming, plus countless others. I guess the point I’m trying to make is to find what’s right and fits the best for you, not the people in the magazines, your friends at the office, or your brother, but you and you only.
©Melissa Allen is a certified personal trainer, Blackbelt & fitness consultant, as well as the owner of Optimum Condition— personal fitness training and kickboxing instruction. She is a self-syndicated columnist and a member of the San Diego Press Club and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She welcomes input from her readers, so please contact her with any questions or comments that you may have by calling (619) 252-4993, email her at Opticondit@aol.com, or visit her website at www.optimumcondition.com.
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