Variety is the Spice of…Exercise
They say that “variety is the spice of life”. I agree! Especially when it comes to exercise.
Of course, they also say “practice makes perfect”, but unless you’re trying to perfect something specifically, I’d recommend variety any day. I think that one of the best ways to stay in shape and keep your exercise routine from being, well, routine is to mix things up.
Here’s why:
Variety reduces boredom
As you may know from some of my previous blogs, I am a runner. I’ve trained for multiple marathons meaning one thing: lots of running. Sure, that’s great (and essential) practice for the big day, but for me, it gets boring. I add variety any way I can, including mixing up the course, mixing up the workouts, and doing cross-training whenever possible.
But when I’m not training towards a specific goal, I find the best way to keep things fresh is to mix it up. Run one day, cycle the next. Better yet? I always look for fun new workouts that I haven’t tried before. Classes at the gym can be great for that – but now that it’s summer, consider an outside training course (like all of those crazy boot camp classes in the parks) or even fun on the water such as kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. A change of scenery is also nice, so if you’re always swimming at the gym, try an outdoor venue or run some trails instead of just your normal loop.
Variety is actually better for your muscles
Muscles respond to change. Doing the same thing every workout can lead to fitness plateaus. Once your muscles have adapted to what you’re asking them to do, they no longer need to grow or change to get the job done. Have you been running the same distance at the same speed for months? Been lifting the same weights at the gym to no avail? Wondering why you’re not seeing improvement? Mix it up! Changing speeds, elevations, exercises, weight load, and even doing something different altogether can lead to quicker results (and a lot more fun).
Variety can help to increase coordination and flexibility
Changing things up can help improve all aspects of your physical health. While one type of exercise might be good to help you get in shape, multiple exercises or sports will help you to lose weight, tone, gain core strength, add flexibility, and increase coordination. Try a mix of cardiovascular exercise (the stuff that gets your heart going), with strength training, and add something to challenge your balance (yoga is great, but the aforementioned stand-up paddleboarding is also an exciting way to test your balance and build your core!)
Variety is fun!
This ties in with “reduces boredom”. If you set out to try new exercises, you are bound to have fun. Yes, that first salsa class may leave you feeling like you have two left feet, but you probably worked up a sweat and had a great time. Salsa not for you? Give something else a go until you find a great fit.
Once you find an amazing fit, feel free to practice until perfect – but don’t forget to mix it up from time-to-time to add to the spice of your fitness life!
Photography by Surfing Sports, North West Action John Gusky
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