Liven Up Your Fitness Routine

By Halona Black

Is your workout still inspiring you to get up and go? Or is it getting tougher to waltz into the same old gym before or after work, get on the same old treadmill, listening to the same old tunes on your iPod? Maybe it’s time to get out of that gym rut. Get hooked on some unconventional ways to get your work out!

We all know the gym is primarily health focused. However, several aspects of gyms can actually be a health hazard. The air in gyms is often stale as it is recycled through vents holding mold, dust, and dirt. As a result, viruses and bacteria are easily spread through the air and into your body.

Sanitation of equipment can also be a problem in some gyms. In gyms with high traffic, people are sweating and leaving bacteria behind for you to pick up on your body.

Now that you’re rethinking renewing your gym membership, here are some new ideas to liven up your fitness routine:

• Outdoor bootcamps

• Circuit exercises on youtube

• Good, old fashioned dancing

Outdoor bootcamps are popping up all over the country. They offer military style fitness sessions designed to give you quick results. Classes are often one to three hours long, allowing you to take cardio and strength building to the next level.

Outdoor bootcamps have a leg up on gyms – you get to breathe fresh air and take in natural scenery. There’s something soothing about exercising while surrounded by nature, rather than being surrounded by machines.

You can find an outdoor bootcamp through websites like Meetup. Personal trainers often organize bootcamps to advertise their services. Be sure to research to find a class that caters to your fitness level. Ensure they are a certified fitness instructor.

Circuit exercises are a series of quick exercises you can do in the comfort of your home, or on your next business trip. The exercises combine cardio and strength building in a series of three to four exercises that can be done in 10 minutes. Circuit exercises have been shown to increase fat loss and muscle strength in short periods of time.

Some trainers will use light weights and toning bands while others guide you to use your natural body weight to give you strength resistance. Find certified personal trainer videos (on websites like youtube) to demonstrate circuit exercises. Go mobile by downloading them on your smartphone or laptop.

When was the last time you went dancing after work? Dancing at a nightclub is a great way to shed unwanted pounds and get your heart racing. It’s also a great way to include your partner or friends in exercise. Plus, you get to blow off after-work stress.

Specialized dance clubs such as salsa or belly dancing offer free or reduced price classes. These are usually held in the early evening to teach basic steps before the night gets too busy. Search your local nightclub listings for more details.

Go forth and get fit in new and creative ways!

Halona Black, M.Ed. is a Culinary Nutritionist specializing in women’s health in the New York City area. She provides health coaching, personal chef services, and cooking classes. To receive more health and wellness tips, you can sign up for her weekly newsletter at http://GarlicAndLemonsLLC.com.