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Ask Yourself These Questions When Deciding Which Workouts Are Right for You

There seems to be a constant barrage of new workouts to try and choose between. Yes, virtual reality zombie apocalypse training workouts are a thing and yes, I’m just as intrigued as you are. If you’re new to the gym or just indecisive at the best of times, finding the right workout to keep you motivated can feel overwhelming. 

To narrow it down and find the workout that works best for you, ask yourself these questions:

  1. What are my fitness goals?
  2. How much time do I have to commit to a workout? 
  3. What kind of physical exercise am I most interested in?

Once you have clear answers, you can work backwards to find a workout type that is going to keep you motivated and on track with your fitness goals. To get started, here are some workout basics, broken down and aligned with goals, time commitments and interests. The good news? You can trial each (or all) of these workouts for free at Fitness First with a five-day trial.

Is yoga right for me?

If you’re interested in stretching your limbs and workouts that will help you achieve a state of zen, then yoga might be the right workout for you. Release your inner yogi if your fitness goal is to strengthen and tone while balancing body and mind.

The great thing about Yoga is that there are so many class styles to choose from. If you’re a novice then you might want to start with a beginners vinyasa and if you’re up for a challenge, hot yoga will take your practice to a whole new level. 

A yoga class runs for approximately 1 hour and will usually include a meditation to encourage you to connect and surrender to the present moment, which I’m 100% into. 

Fitness goal: Tone, strengthen and improve flexibility. 

Time commitment: One hour per workout.

Interested in: Combining physical movement with meditation and finding a balance between the body and mind.

Is boxing right for me?

A boxing workout is more than just throwing punches. If you’re interested in endurance training and like to get competitive while pushing yourself to the limit, boxing might be your new favourite workout. 

A boxing session will help improve cardiovascular health and bone density while making you feel like the next world champion (hello feel-good endorphins). 

There are quite a few ways to incorporate boxing into your probably already busy schedule. Classes tend to run for 45-60 minutes, or schedule a PT session on your terms and work on your technique with one on one training. 

Fitness goal: Strengthen, weight management and improve overall health.

Time commitment: Flexible. Ideally 30-60 minutes per workout.

Interested in: Feeling stronger, losing weight and becoming the healthiest version of yourself. 

Is HIIT right for me? 

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a high impact training technique designed to have you burning calories long after your workout session. 

If you want to maximise your time in the gym as much as possible and manage your weight or tone up then HIIT could be right for you. This short interval approach to exercise is perfect for anyone who gets distracted easily or needs a fast workout that delivers maximum results. 

A HIIT class duration is approximately 30-45 minutes and as a ballpark, each round of exercise will be approximately 60 seconds of activity followed by 20 seconds of rest. 

Fitness goal: Weight management, tone up and manage cardiovascular health. 

Time commitment: 30-45 minutes per workout.

Interested in: Spending as little time in the gym as possible but still wanting to see big results. 

Is Pilates right for me?

Pilates is the perfect low impact workout option for anyone who wants to strengthen, lengthen and tone their muscles (or whose knees just aren’t quite what they used to be). 

Pilates is a foundational full-body workout that incorporates breath work to improve muscle endurance, posture and balance. A recent study found that people aged 25 to 65 who did a pilates workout twice a week for 12 weeks, experienced a significant increase in abdominal and upper-body muscular endurance as well as hamstring flexibility [1]

Pilates classes range from express 30-minute sessions right through to 60 or 90-minute workouts. 

Fitness goal: To improve core strength, overall fitness, flexibility, posture and balance.

Time commitment: 30-60 minutes per workout.

Interested in: Overall wellbeing and effective, low impact workouts that minimise the chance of injury.

Head to Fitness First and find your new favourite workout with a free five-day pass.

REFERENCES

[1] Pilates for Improvement of Muscle Endurance, Flexibility, Balance and Posture, Kloubec, June A, https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2010/03000/Pilates_for_Improvement_of_Muscle_Endurance,.10.aspx

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