What kind of fitness should I do?
There are so many options, and so many so-called "perfect" workouts. How do you know where to start?
There's a lot of nuance here, obviously. Your goals and challenges, barriers you face like access to equipment or injury—these are all things that would guide us to choose your ideal program in a strategy session or consultation.
Generally speaking, though, there's an easy answer to this common question, or at least a jumping-off point:
You should do a variety of movements.
If that sounds decidedly unhelpful, let me clarify.
These days, social media is packed with influencers selling the Absolute Best Thing. The supplement that'll transform you into a unicorn; the workout that'll let you wake up looking like [Brad Pitt, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, whoever] in just six weeks; the product that'll give you the flawless skin of a ten-year-old and the hair of a Greek goddess.
Uhuh. Sure.
We know it's bogus, but even if we don't believe it, there's so much out there that we become convinced the Perfect Thing must exist—we just need to figure out what it is.
What it is, is not one thing.
Pilates, yoga, strength training, jogging, plyometrics, mobility—these are all excellent workouts, but not if they're all you do.
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Our bodies do so, so much. They bend, walk, lift, jump, stretch, lean, squat, reach, slouch, and twist. Why do we assume there's just one type of exercise that will render us well-rounded and healthy?
So, do strength training, because lifting heavy (which is subjective) is important for building muscle as we get older. Do yoga, because flexibility and balance are also essential to keeping well. And take brisk walks or go jogging, because cardio keeps our hearts and blood flow in good working order.
But.
Here's the other thing to keep in mind:
You've gotta find movements you enjoy doing.
Because you know the only long-term result of forcing yourself to do workouts you despise will be skipping them regularly or stopping outright.
Remember: you've got this.
And if you need a bit of help to get it, I'm always here:
