Because there’s no one right way to move your body.
There’s a reason we love to have variety in our class offerings. Everyone has different goals. Everyone has different preferences. Our coaches have their own favorites, too! We know that we’re all leading busy lives packed with a hundred competing priorities, and sometimes it starts to feel like it might be easiest to let our workout be the thing that slips. Even if you know taking the time to invest in yourself will help you feel better in the long run, sometimes that can feel easier said than done. So if you’re having a hard time getting yourself into the studio or committing fully to a workout once you’re there, here are six small changes we suggest trying that could make a major difference in your workout experience.
Try A New Class Time
It can be easy to idealize squishing all your productivity into the morning. It’s a cliché as old as time that the early bird gets the worm. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter when you’re getting your workout in as long as you’re getting it in. So if you find yourself snoozing your alarm and missing class every day just because you think you should get into the studio at 6 a.m., why not reevaluate? Is there a class you could take after your work day finishes? We promise we’ll be just as happy to see you, no matter what the time of day.
Don’t Fight What Feels Right
Do you have it in your mind that there’s one superior workout that’s going to help you achieve peak fitness? Maybe you’ve got it in your head weight lifting’s the only way you’re ever truly going to look tone. Or perhaps all your friends swear by pilates when you’ve always felt drawn to yoga. Of course different workouts indeed prioritize different things, but that doesn’t mean you need to feel locked into going through the motions of a class that just doesn’t work for you. Consider your goals and then consider what sort of workout you actually enjoy. We bet you’ll be able to find a class that can tick both boxes, or that at least meets you in the middle.
Reframe Your Commitment to Fitness.
If you’re struggling to get into the studio, it’s probably because you’re thinking of your workout more as a chore or check-box on a to-do list than as a gift you can give to yourself. What would it look like if you considered what working out brings to your life instead of something you have to do? After your workout, take a minute to consider all the ways that working out changes your life for the better, whether it’s the calmness you feel walking out of the studio or the adventures you can go on because you have your health. Then the next time you’re heading to work out, take a minute for gratitude. Remind yourself you get to work out and because you get to work out you get to have all those other things in your life.
Take Five Minutes to Ground Yourself
Perhaps the struggle you’re facing with your workouts is focusing on being present and giving your all to class. If your mind is in a million places, it can be hard to be sure you’re using your muscles properly or moving in the direction you want to be. You might find yourself giving up when an exercise gets hard instead of pushing through, even in moments you know deep down you can achieve. To combat this, why not try to get to the studio five minutes early and do a quick meditation before you step into the studio. Close your eyes, clear your mind, and breathe. You might be surprised how big of an impact those five minutes can have on your entire workout.
Take Five Minutes to Stretch After Class
On the other hand, if the thing stopping you from getting back to class regularly is how sore you feel after, taking just a few minutes to stretch out your muscles post workout could make a major difference. Give your body the time to adjust from the hard work you put in in the studio to its regular use in the rest of your day-to-day life, and you’ll likely be better off for it.
Say Hi to Someone In Class
We aim to make everyone feel welcome in our Oxygen Yoga & Fitness classes, but we know for some people stepping into a workout studio can be incredibly intimidating. If this is you, you’re not alone and we have a suggestion for you. Try saying hi to someone in the studio next time you’re in, or even just smiling at the other people working out next to you. Every small smile and hello can take you one step closer to friendship, and once you’ve got some friendly faces in the studio we bet it won’t feel nearly as intimidating.
The next time you’re in a workout rut, try a few of these and report back. Did any of them work for you? We’d love to hear when we see you in the class that works best for you.