8 Ways to Make Your Workout More Fun
by Black Belt Training Group- Tags:
- Fitness
Martial Arts is an amazing way to stay engaged while you workout. If you don’t do Martial Arts ask yourself, “Do you look forward to your workouts?” If not, you’re more likely to come up with reasons to skip a session or two. As missed sessions become more common, you’ll lose the health and fitness benefits that made you want to exercise in the first place, so it’s important to keep things fun.
Consider these tips to bring some fun into your exercise time:
- Analyze your current workout. If your exercise time is less than fulfilling, an analysis of your current workout will help you identify why you’re not happy.
- Does the thought of using the Stairmaster make you want to cry? Do you try to come up with excuses to avoid running? If your workout makes you sad, it’s time to reevaluate how you exercise.
- Consider why you’re unhappy and search for solutions that will work with your lifestyle. Would taking a group class make you more likely to exercise? Do you simply need a different type of workout?
- Consider signing up for a Martial Arts class at a local gym or other venue. They are fun and engaging and most have a belt system that can act to give you motivation to workout consistently.
- Add a friend. Exercising alone can get boring, but a good friend can change how you think about your workout.
- Do you hate to exercise alone? Finding a friend who is also trying to get in shape can help both of you by making the workout more fun.
- A study, titled “The Influence of Partner’s Behavior on Health Behavior Change,” found that adding a partner to your workout can help. Researchers learned that it makes you five times more likely to exercise.
- If your workout requires a partnering up for a portion of it, like in a Martial Arts class, then you and your friend are less likely to skip and let each other down.
- Turn it into a game with rewards. Games can make your workout more fun. This will motivate you to keep going and stay active.
- You don’t have to be competitive or combative to enjoy the spiritedness of Martial Arts. The great thing is that most of the time you are only competing against yourself and where you were yesterday.
- Add music. Do you have music playing in the background as you do your cardio? Music has a powerful impact on exercise. There is a reason why you hear loud music in gyms.
- A study, titled “Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis,” found that music can actually make you better at exercising. The study also found that music makes the workout seem easier and more fun.
- In Martial Arts classes, often times music will be used to increase the intensity. However, if there is not any music, it is acceptable and encouraged that you yell in class; that get’s everyone going.
- Find someone to emulate. Channel your inner Bruce Lee.
- Even if you can’t bring yourself to pretend like you’re an action movie star, you can always find someone who is doing something impressive and try to copy or mimic him or her. You never know, you might accomplish something you never thought you would.
- Change your workout environment. Workout someplace that will give you a change of scenery. Sometime going to the gym everyday, the only thing that changes is if someone new shows up and happens to be using the piece of equipment you normally use.
- Exercising outdoors can make your workout more enjoyable. Researchers found that the outdoors helps you forget the pain while you focus on your surroundings.
- Martial Arts classes are often structured differently each time you go. You may work on different techniques and with different partners each time you come to class
- Post motivational notes. Putting notes to encourage exercise wherever you might see them during your day can help you stay in shape. Research shows that even simple things like smiley faces can have a positive impact on your workout.
- Spend some time writing inspiring notes to yourself. Consider writing funny quotes to help you stay inspired to work out.
- Achieving new rank is like telling yourself that you’ve gotten better. It can be a constant affirmation every time that you put it on.
- Add variety. Do you do the same exercise routine every day? The same workout can get boring over time. Consider trying new exercises you’ve never done before. Also, think about exercise in different ways.
- Dancing can be a great way to burn calories and stay in shape. Do you have a dance you love?
- Playing sports is a workout too. Organize teams with your family and friends or join community teams and have some fun!
- Of course Martial Arts fits here as well.
Your workouts can be more fun with a few simple adjustments. Make exercise a better experience with these tips and you’ll find that fitness can be fun!
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