Sticking With an Exercise Program
An often overlooked key to staying committed
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You’ve decided that you really need to get serious about some form of daily exercise. This is not the first time you’ve been down this path. You may have tried a gym membership or bought exercise DVDs. You blame yourself for not being able to stick with the program.
I have been an exercise instructor for the past 20 years, specializing in senior fitness. I have a nationally recognized certification that I keep up to date with continuing education courses. I know how to plan a program to include all the elements that constitute a healthy workout (cardio, stretch, strengthen) according to the latest research in exercise science. But, if I don’t add laughter and fun into that mix, I don’t feel that I reached my goal of getting people to want to come back for more.
A point that I always emphasize with my clients is, if they are not enjoying their exercise class, they are highly unlikely to stick with it. My question to them: “Are you having fun?” If not, the discipline required to keep coming to class is a form of misery. One more hated thing that you have to get through.
I have never enjoyed traditional aerobics classes. The accompanying music is like a metronome pounding in my brain. I enjoy dancing, but please don’t ask me to join an aerobics dance class, where everyone is supposed to be on the same step at the same time. My sister absolutely loves step aerobics and Zumba, and I am happy that she looks forward to her classes. It’s great for her, but it’s not for me. Yes, I teach exercise classes and I hate traditional aerobics classes — that’s okay.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t like aerobic activities. I prefer kickboxing. Doing my own thing at my own pace. Stopping when I want to. Stopping midway in a traditional aerobics class often means getting sideswiped by the person who is grape-vining in your direction, and then weaving your way like PacMan to the nearest seat. It’s just too stressful for me!
For years, I berated myself for opting out of aerobics classes. After all, my continuing education classes stress the importance of achieving so many minutes of exercise at my “target” heart rate. I know the formula: To estimate your maximum age-related heart rate…
