No brain, no gain |
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Exercise is beneficial for a number of reasons. It can help improve wellness, reduce stress, aid weight loss, improve mood, you name it…. We don’t need to remind you of the shopping list of benefits, but before you head to the gym for your next workout, consider this: Is your fitness routine the right fit for your lifestyle?
In the right ‘dose’, exercise may be just what the doctor ordered. But get it wrong and you could be left feeling even more stretched for time and energy. So what’s the solution? Exercise without excessive stress; get the balance right and you’ll reap the benefits of an exercise plan that works for you.
At Virgin Active, we’ve got the perfect exercise prescription. Our fitness gurus Chris Beedie and Nick Hudson put together some great advice to make moving more effective (and fun) every time you visit one of our clubs. Let’s hear it from the experts!
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Lighten the load.
If you’re burning the candle at both ends, then a high-intensity, marathon-length exercise session at the end of the day may do little to refresh body and mind, in fact, it might just add to the stress. Think of Olympic athletes who perform at their peak in preparation, just to be disappointed when the added stress of the games themselves leads to burnout and a lacklustre performance.
If you’re generally performing poorly because you’re too tired and stressed, don’t make things worse through inappropriate exercise. Longer working hours, sleeplessness, poor diet and emotional upheaval are all common stressors. Add to these exercise performed at too high an intensity, for too long or too often and you may end up doing more harm than good. If you’re heading for burnout, manage your exercise routine with these three steps:
- Drop the intensity of your workout. It might feel almost guilt provokingly easy, but it might be doing you far more good than a strenuous session.
- If you don’t want to drop the intensity, perhaps drop the duration of one or more sessions per week. You could also alternate long and short workouts on every other day.
- Drop the frequency of your exercise routine. Alternate exercise days with rest days. You get fit whilst you’re recovering, not whilst you’re exercising. Allow proper recovery to gain the most from your programme.
Make mine a no-brainer.
Keep it simple: learning can be stressful. In the gym environment, mastering a new skill or having to concentrate too hard may leave you feeling more frazzled than refreshed. If coordination is not your forté, pass on the advanced aerobics and opt for a simple V-Cycle class and feel your stresses spinning away with each turn of the wheels.
Get distracted.
For some people ‘switching off’ is the ultimate antidote to stress, whilst for others distraction is the key. Know what works best for you; does listening to music or watching TV while you exercise take your mind off the effort? Does a yoga class free your mind and help you unwind? Perhaps a few lengths in the pool helps you escape from the world outside? Whatever it is that captures your imagination, combining an enjoyment element with your exercise routine helps you get so much more from your time with us.
Fun = relaxation.
Having fun is guaranteed when you choose Virgin Active as your exercise and wellness partner. Start with our huge range of group exercise classes, designed to push all the right buttons whatever your goals or needs. Add music, rhythm and a friendly, sociable vibe and you can see how actively seeking the fun element translates into relaxation.
Spoilt for choice, but not sure how to occupy your time at the gym? If you need some direction, you may find the services of a personal trainer liberating. Having a fitness professional ‘prescribe’ just the right workout for you leaves you free to simply enjoy yourself without fretting over the appropriate amount or level of exercising.
For more information on how to get moving and have more fun, contact your nearest Virgin Active Health Club today and arrange for a free club visit.
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