By Tammy Landon
We all know we should be getting regular exercise and eating right, but we also know that actually doing that is easier said than done. We have busy work and family schedules that often get in the way of our own personal health and wellness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Regular exercise can help control weight and reduce the risk of disease. It can also strengthen your bones and muscles, and improve your mental health. The Surgeon General in 2009 recommended that people get at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per week, or 30 minutes a day. A combination of cardiorespiratory exercise, resistance training and flexibility is recommended.
Most Americans do not meet these recommendations. So how do we get more active on a regular basis? Try personal training or group exercise. Committing to working with a personal trainer or attending a group exercise class often does the trick, especially if you are paying for those services. Accountability is key! Schedule time for fitness each week and block it out at work and home. This way, you are more apt to follow through with that commitment.
Setting personal fitness goals and measuring those goals is also extremely important. Taking body fat and size measurements will show results, and when we see results and feel the changes in our body we are more motivated to maintain that routine.
Personal training
Many people do not have experience or knowledge of where to begin. A personal trainer will provide you with safe and effective training techniques to prevent injury and get results. A trainer will also address your individual needs. For example, once a client said, “I have several chronic conditions which in the past have prevented me from regular exercise.” After following a customized program, the client later reported, “Working with my trainer the last 10 months has allowed me to reach my goals.”
Personal training can work in a variety of ways. For example, some clients meet with trainers two or three times per week, some once a week, others once every five to six weeks. Alternatively, sometimes trainers meet with their clients three times in one week and then not again for some time. This works for clients who want a fresh new workout routine that they can do on their own. Along with exercise, your trainer can give you the nutritional and diet support as is needed.
Group fitness
Group training or classes have a set time and day each week, helping you to schedule and keep to your workouts. Maybe it’s a yoga or pilates class or a strength training class, Zumba, boot camp, kick box, or indoor cycling class. An instructor who guides you through routines provides you with motivation and energy. You will get more out of that exercise session in the group setting because your instructor helps you work safely, and the group setting creates a wonderful sense of comraderie. One class participant said, “I absolutely work out with more intensity in classes than on my own.”
You will also meet others with similar goals and interests and make new friends!
Reaching out to a personal trainer at your local fitness center or joining a group exercise class is the first step to wellness and health. Finding an effective way for you to reach your fitness and health goals, is priceless!
Tammy Landon has been involved in the local fitness industry for 20 years. She has a B.S. in Health and Fitness and a Masters degree in Physical Education/Athletic Administration. Tammy is one of the four new owners of The Gymnasium in downtown Rutland and offers personal training and fitness classes there.
