You've been into the New Year and so many of you are ready to get started or reacquaint yourselves with working out in the gym. Here are some helpful tips to help you start your journey to a better you! First, be sure to get clearance from your physician beforestarting any exercise or weight management program. Askthe health club for their hours of operation as well as a copyof their club rules and regulations. Be sure to have someonegive you a tour so you're familiar with the club surroundings, especially the locker rooms. Now that you're ready to begin a fitness program, what's next? Most health clubs offer a complimentary fitness assessment provided by a member of the Personal Training Staff. This is a great way to start to your workout program. The trainer will evaluate your current fitness level and help you identify your fitness goals and make recommendations to help you achieve those goals. Knowing and understanding your current fitness level will help you to work out properly and might keep you from getting frustrated if you don't see the results you anticipated. Also, please remember, when you get started on your fitness program you may experience a little post workout soreness at first, but that should go away after the first few workouts. Here are some routines that you can follow at the gym. Cross training is essential when starting a workout routine. Being adventurous and trying new things can help keep your workouts fresh and interesting. Instead of the Stairmaster, try the treadmill. If you walk regularly, you can walk slowly over a long distance, and on other days, you may want to alternate walking and jogging. Some days try walking a mile as fast as possible. The variety of workouts can keep your routine from getting mundane. Remember to try different moves with small apparatuses that your gym may have available to you. You do not have to use free weights all the time. A new wave of resistance equipment is flooding the gyms, which gives you different ways to do the same old exercises. Stability balls, weighted medicine balls, exercise tubes, resistance bands and exercise bars can provide alternatives to standard weight and resistance training. After a few weeks, raise the bar and push yourself more. Run faster, increase the weight you lift or the number of sets you do, perform a more difficult version of an exercise or change the order of the exercises you do in a session. When it comes to weight training, the general set scheme is two to four sets of eight to 15 repetitions per exercise. Keep in mind that weight training is just as important as your cardio workout. Your muscles burn 90% of your calories everyday. Weight training raises your metabolism and does more than you think! If you do not feel comfortable or confident on starting an exercise program, consider hiring a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) who can help get you started and who can also minimize your risk of injury. They are definitely worth it. Exercise is fun. It's like therapy or a mini vacation from stress. Group fitness classes can help you gain stamina & burn excess body fat too. Sometimes having a partner can motivate you more as well. There are a variety of group fitness classes you can take, including, Step, Intervals, aquatics, boot–camp, circuit training, cardio kickboxing and much more. If you prefer yoga, there are many types including Hatha, Hot Yoga, Ashtanga and Restorative Yoga. You do not need to be extremely flexible to take yoga. Most people practice yoga to gain flexibility. Yoga can also help you build strength and stamina. Pilates is another form of exercise that you can do as well. It focuses more on core strength; your abdominals and back muscles. It helps strengthen the core by developing pelvic stability and abdominal control. It also improves your flexibility, strength, balance and posture. Pilates places an emphasis on deep breathing and smooth, long movements that encourage muscles to lengthen and relax. Most health clubs offer Pilates Reformer classes, while others don't. This is a mainpiece of equipment used in Pilates exercise. The Reformer glides forward and backward on rollers and uses springs for resistance. There is no impact involved. Pilates is also helpful for rehab patients to improve your core. As you can see there are a variety of fitness programs for your liking. Have fun and try something different to see what works for you. Happy Workouts!!
