If you're in the process of talking yourself out of another sweat session,
stop right there.
It's likely that the problem lies not with your
general hatred of exercise, but rather the particular workout you've selected.
You wouldn't head off to a club on a Saturday night if what you really felt
like doing was settling in with a good book and a glass of wine, right? The
same logic follows for exercise. Pairing your activity with your
current mood can be one of the best ways to motivate yourself to stick to a weekly fitness routine, and you'll genuinely enjoy reaping the
benefits instead of wishing you were someplace else.
Ready to harness the power of both good and bad vibes
with your workout? Check out the best fitness matches for your current mood
below.
This high-intensity cardio class is perfectly
designed for blowing off some steam! Process the emotions of a rough day as
you punch, jab and high kick your way through the killer workout.
You’ll break a serious sweat, leave all your anger on the gym studio floor,
and walk away with a big boost of endorphins to boot. Just remember: It’s okay
to channel that inner fire into your workout effort, but be sure to listen to
your body when it says “stop.” It’s surprisingly easy and common to injure yourself when you push too hard in workouts fueled
by strong, negative emotions.
One of the best times to try and train the mind
is when it’s preoccupied with stress, anxiety and
worry. Use your
workout to soothe your body mentally, physically and emotionally before calling
it a day, and take to that yoga mat. This mindful exercise helps the body let go of stress and calm down for a quality night’s rest. Try these posesto work wonders on your stress levels as you
focus on breathing deeply and evenly, realigning with your personal center.
Harness that positive energy and take to your
favorite jogging route! You just might find that your optimistic attitude adds a little pep to your step, making
jogging feel even more enjoyable -- or at least tolerable, for those who aren’t into pounding the
pavement. Running has been shown to boost brain performance, protect your
heart, and pretty much guarantee a good night’s sleep. Combining that happy mood with an adrenaline
rush and feel-good endorphins sets you up for a really great day.
Channel your inner adventurer, grab that
backpack and hit a new trail for a workout that challenges both your body and
curious mind. Hiking takes your body back to its roots by working the smaller stabilizer
muscles that
are left out of more common, less dynamic workouts. And just getting the chance
to reunite with nature can boast big benefits. Hikers tend to
be more creative, happier and more mindful. So be one
with the Earth and go explore!
Immerse yourself in a pool of calming blue water
and let your mood float away as you move through your favorite stroke. Swimming
allows you the opportunity to work out in your own space, both mentally and
physically, as you move at your own pace and feel your own rhythm. Swimming is
a fantastic form of low-impact cardio exercise, getting your heart rate up while being kind to
your joints. The rushing water feelsrefreshing and soothing at the same time, and some even find that
a good session in the pool can alleviate symptoms of depression.
Hop on that saddle and ride wherever your body
feels like taking you! Bounding energy isn’t required to reap the benefits of
aerobic activity, sightseeing and fresh air that come along with these two
wheels. Plus, cyclists also tend to be fit and self-sufficient, and enjoy
longer lives than their non-pedaling counterparts. So go climb hills, coast along
a waterway, or pedal through town just for the fun of it.
Use that extra motivation to challenge yourself
with a boot camp class incorporating intervals, group work and maybe even a few
new tools -- that’s right, grab those kettlebells! Classes that utilize high-intensity interval training
(HIIT) and circuits not only help improve cardiovascular
fitness, but also build muscle strength and create ametabolic afterburn effect that can be noticed long after you've hit
the showers. And oftentimes, people keep coming back for that sense of camaraderie they feel with their classmates as they
all push through that last set of burpees together. It’s the perfect place to
share your positive energy!
No matter how you're feeling, there is always a way to make that sense of
self-awareness work for you rather
than against you. The next time the thought of your exercise routine makes you
want to cower underneath your sheets instead of throwing on your favorite fitness
outfit and moving, consider your mood and then match it to the right workout
for you at that current moment. It's worth a
try, right?
