Fitness can be one of the best resources for your mental health, physical health, and just a source of fun. However, there’s so much information out there and it is confusing to navigate especially when you first start. Many fitness platforms emphasize the importance of running and weight training but There are some other forms of fitness that may be more your style. There is so much more to fitness than just weights and running, so I wanted to provide a bit of insight from my personal experience in fitness.
I am by no means a fitness expert, I honestly just got into fitness because I was bored during quarantine. Throughout high school I was always an athlete so I got my exercise through various sports. But when COVID-19 hit, I did not know what I should be doing to exercise. I always enjoyed playing tennis and going on runs but working with teammates wasn’t going to be an option that Spring. With an abundance of time thanks to a pandemic, I decided to hit the books and figure out what I wanted to do for exercise.
My first solution during the pandemic was like many others; I tried Peloton. I still use this app and particularly love the cycling and cardio app features, but I did not want to do these two activities everyday. Of course in March of 2020 with “Super Lonely” being the most trending song on tik tok, I also joined the bandwagon and tried ChloeTings workouts. That did not last more than two weeks. The workouts were challenging, but I really did not enjoy them and did not see results I was looking for in my body. The lack of results could also have been a result of quarantine baking but either way that was not for me.
After a lot of extended walks and various tik tok trends, I was still looking to add a bit of spice into my exercise routine. To add something new, I tried a few yoga classes, which I absolutely loved. This environment was so great for me because it took pressure off of results and put the focus on how you felt. Yoga was an essential part of my transition from working out to be skinny to working out because I loved the way it made me feel. While I do not do yoga everyday, I still try to take a class each week.
Taking exercise classes presents one big issue, who has that kind of time? While I would love to say I always make the time for an hour long exercise class, it isn’t true or realistic for my college schedule like it was for my quarantine schedule. With this problem, I worked to find a solution. I thought about it for so long when I realised I have a free resource in front of me at all times- my phone. Youtube videos via my phone are now an essential component of my fitness routine.
I’m obviously not going to gatekeep my favorite youtube workouts that are not weight/running so here’s my top two.
“I’m sweaty and i know it”
For pilates, “I’m Sweaty and I Know it,” is the best workout! The instructor, Callie Jardine, is encouraging and creates a very positive environment for her viewers. With or without the ankle weights she uses, you will feel the burn the next day.
“Oceane andrea”
For full body workouts, “Oceane Andrea,” has amazing cardio, abs, legs, or really anything you need. She creates a peaceful environment which pushes viewers to create an encouraging mindset. Her workouts make me feel strong and confident- I love starting my day with these.
These workouts are great- but only do them if you enjoy it! Life is too short to be going to the gym and doing something you hate. Starting the day with one of these workouts or a walk, run, weight training, or taking a rest day can make all the difference in your mindset leading into the day. And as always, remember to drink your water and take care of yourself today. You deserve it.