For trying out new things, I tell myself I need to try something X times and if I hate it at the end of it, I NEVER EVER have to go back again. For yoga, this was 12 weeks in 2012. By the end of that period, I was feeling more confident, finding it a bit easier, and even with a long break for Covid, I've come back to it happily. For spin, that was 4 classes - I tried it this spring, and while I like it, I think it's a winter activity for me. I'd rather ride a long ride on my actual bike when the weather is decent, but a super sweaty spin class and a nice shower seems super lux for winter. I don't think I'll ever be any good at the choreography (honestly, had kind of assumed I'd just be cycling fast??) but it's a nice vibe.
Ohh that's super interesting. It's definitely not unusual to dislike a new form of exercise the first time (or even the first few times) you try it so that could be such a helpful rule! And while I have a lot of trouble getting myself to do cardio, I also love a nice shower after a super sweaty indoor cycle!
FWIW I have done a couple of indoor cycling classes, and have a Peloton that I actually do sometimes/occasionally use, and I'm not familiar with the concept of choreography! In my experience you just go faster or slower, and make the resistance higher or lower. Very curious what choreography means in this context!
Firstly, as someone whose relationship with Instagram is largely hot and cold and who came to substack to reprogram myself from it — you have my support to keep your Instagram a separate and private entity. You have a way to connect with your readers right here, already!
Secondly, to chime into the topic: it was yoga for me! But I experienced what many in this post did, initially. The most accessible yoga space in my area, in terms of cost, is a hot vinyasa flow studio, meaning my first class was VERY INTENSE. (And I started going because a guy, who I wished liked me more than he did, went there.) But they did also have beginning classes, which varied in beginner-ness depending on the teacher. I eventually made my way to YouTube yoga classes which key to me finding the ~vibe~ that worked for me, and then the studio near me that embodied that vibe. It’s the only exercise I’ve ever stuck with and that’s helped me also stick to long walks that I hope evolve into short runs.
I love all these ideas! I'm almost always changing up my routine, going to different yoga and pilates classes, and doing different workouts on the iFit and Sweat apps. I think you just have to keep trying different workouts until you find ones you like. It's a pain and I've done more workouts I didn't love than ones that I like but now I have a decent amount of workouts that I know I like and can go back to regularly. It also helps to meet with a personal trainer (if you can afford it) to learn about proper form for your body. Just a few sessions with a pt can help and then you can DIY the rest of your fitness journey.
Loved reading the wide range of responses! Thanks for including mine! I have to credit my dear friend Anna (different one!) when I was at Northwestern (same one!) for drilling into me the concept of OTM. I was in academia and always had my head in a book and she really encouraged me to do an Obligatory Thirty Minutes of physical activity every day. I had a bicycle and Evanston's sidewalks were very walkable, so that's how I started. For me, the goal for many, many years was no goal other than doing at least 30 minutes. So accessibility and repeatability have sort of always been key for me when it comes to regular exercise. If something feels daunting or like it requires a lot of extra effort or equipment, I am very good at not doing it.
My husband used to work nights as a first responder right at the same time I had our daughter. I started to lose my mind because I had no physical outlet for anything and I used to walk everywhere. I went back to my office job at 4 months and couldn’t get any exercise.
About 6 years ago, a friend suggested I try Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. I started small with daily 10 minute practices before work. And then added in more after my daughter went to sleep. Then my husband and I bought a treadmill for our basement so I could do something while my kid was asleep.
Life is completely different now as a SAHM with a husband that works days. But on the days I don’t do yoga with Adriene I don’t feel like myself. I have added in some cardio and strength videos and I can attest to the workouts for seniors videos are so great!
One thing I have learned about myself is that the main barrier of my working out is if I have to leave my house. I don’t want to agonize over how I will look in workout clothes, getting sweaty, getting to a class on time, carving out what would feel like 2 hours for a half an hour workout. I can just do what I need to in my house with no one looking. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I am less likely to hurt myself, my anxiety is much better, and now I can paddleboard across our local lake without getting wildly sore. I am strong enough to do harder things, (even out in front of people) without feeling like a fool.
During the spring/summer/early fall I bike. I love been outside and feeling like I’m actually going somewhere. But I struggle in the winter. Indoor exercise/cardio feels so boring and never seem to line up with my life (work, young kids, etc). And it’s hard to commit to outdoor exercise when the weather is unpredictable and, frankly , cold! But I need to figure something out and this post feels like it landed at exactly the right time to push me to plan before bike season ends and the winter inertia hits.
This has been a major issue even before I got my very first PT certification back in 2012. There were almost no self-guided programs for beginners, but there was something worse: once you successfully completed the “beginner” level, there was NOTHING for intermediate level. The jump was so steep, there was a huge potential to injure someone permanently. The good ol’ Beachbody craze… But thankfully a lot of them got people sufficiently interested in movement (and probably sufficiently frustrated) that they looked for a better way and found exactly what works for them and what they can love and cherish.
I’ve been looking for an activity or a workout program that focuses on building a foundation of muscle and functional fitness so that you’re less at risk for injury or immobility when you’re older. I’m in my 20s though so that’s a long ways off! Are the workouts for seniors still likely to be what I’m looking for?
For trying out new things, I tell myself I need to try something X times and if I hate it at the end of it, I NEVER EVER have to go back again. For yoga, this was 12 weeks in 2012. By the end of that period, I was feeling more confident, finding it a bit easier, and even with a long break for Covid, I've come back to it happily. For spin, that was 4 classes - I tried it this spring, and while I like it, I think it's a winter activity for me. I'd rather ride a long ride on my actual bike when the weather is decent, but a super sweaty spin class and a nice shower seems super lux for winter. I don't think I'll ever be any good at the choreography (honestly, had kind of assumed I'd just be cycling fast??) but it's a nice vibe.
Ohh that's super interesting. It's definitely not unusual to dislike a new form of exercise the first time (or even the first few times) you try it so that could be such a helpful rule! And while I have a lot of trouble getting myself to do cardio, I also love a nice shower after a super sweaty indoor cycle!
This is how I learn that spin involves choreography, so thank you for that share!
FWIW I have done a couple of indoor cycling classes, and have a Peloton that I actually do sometimes/occasionally use, and I'm not familiar with the concept of choreography! In my experience you just go faster or slower, and make the resistance higher or lower. Very curious what choreography means in this context!
Firstly, as someone whose relationship with Instagram is largely hot and cold and who came to substack to reprogram myself from it — you have my support to keep your Instagram a separate and private entity. You have a way to connect with your readers right here, already!
Secondly, to chime into the topic: it was yoga for me! But I experienced what many in this post did, initially. The most accessible yoga space in my area, in terms of cost, is a hot vinyasa flow studio, meaning my first class was VERY INTENSE. (And I started going because a guy, who I wished liked me more than he did, went there.) But they did also have beginning classes, which varied in beginner-ness depending on the teacher. I eventually made my way to YouTube yoga classes which key to me finding the ~vibe~ that worked for me, and then the studio near me that embodied that vibe. It’s the only exercise I’ve ever stuck with and that’s helped me also stick to long walks that I hope evolve into short runs.
I hate cardio. I love Zumba.
Ahahaha I hate cardio *and* Zumba! Help!!
Hi Anna! Love this :)
I love all these ideas! I'm almost always changing up my routine, going to different yoga and pilates classes, and doing different workouts on the iFit and Sweat apps. I think you just have to keep trying different workouts until you find ones you like. It's a pain and I've done more workouts I didn't love than ones that I like but now I have a decent amount of workouts that I know I like and can go back to regularly. It also helps to meet with a personal trainer (if you can afford it) to learn about proper form for your body. Just a few sessions with a pt can help and then you can DIY the rest of your fitness journey.
Loved reading the wide range of responses! Thanks for including mine! I have to credit my dear friend Anna (different one!) when I was at Northwestern (same one!) for drilling into me the concept of OTM. I was in academia and always had my head in a book and she really encouraged me to do an Obligatory Thirty Minutes of physical activity every day. I had a bicycle and Evanston's sidewalks were very walkable, so that's how I started. For me, the goal for many, many years was no goal other than doing at least 30 minutes. So accessibility and repeatability have sort of always been key for me when it comes to regular exercise. If something feels daunting or like it requires a lot of extra effort or equipment, I am very good at not doing it.
My husband used to work nights as a first responder right at the same time I had our daughter. I started to lose my mind because I had no physical outlet for anything and I used to walk everywhere. I went back to my office job at 4 months and couldn’t get any exercise.
About 6 years ago, a friend suggested I try Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. I started small with daily 10 minute practices before work. And then added in more after my daughter went to sleep. Then my husband and I bought a treadmill for our basement so I could do something while my kid was asleep.
Life is completely different now as a SAHM with a husband that works days. But on the days I don’t do yoga with Adriene I don’t feel like myself. I have added in some cardio and strength videos and I can attest to the workouts for seniors videos are so great!
One thing I have learned about myself is that the main barrier of my working out is if I have to leave my house. I don’t want to agonize over how I will look in workout clothes, getting sweaty, getting to a class on time, carving out what would feel like 2 hours for a half an hour workout. I can just do what I need to in my house with no one looking. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I am less likely to hurt myself, my anxiety is much better, and now I can paddleboard across our local lake without getting wildly sore. I am strong enough to do harder things, (even out in front of people) without feeling like a fool.
During the spring/summer/early fall I bike. I love been outside and feeling like I’m actually going somewhere. But I struggle in the winter. Indoor exercise/cardio feels so boring and never seem to line up with my life (work, young kids, etc). And it’s hard to commit to outdoor exercise when the weather is unpredictable and, frankly , cold! But I need to figure something out and this post feels like it landed at exactly the right time to push me to plan before bike season ends and the winter inertia hits.
This has been a major issue even before I got my very first PT certification back in 2012. There were almost no self-guided programs for beginners, but there was something worse: once you successfully completed the “beginner” level, there was NOTHING for intermediate level. The jump was so steep, there was a huge potential to injure someone permanently. The good ol’ Beachbody craze… But thankfully a lot of them got people sufficiently interested in movement (and probably sufficiently frustrated) that they looked for a better way and found exactly what works for them and what they can love and cherish.
I’ve been looking for an activity or a workout program that focuses on building a foundation of muscle and functional fitness so that you’re less at risk for injury or immobility when you’re older. I’m in my 20s though so that’s a long ways off! Are the workouts for seniors still likely to be what I’m looking for?