Exercise is frequently in the media with someone telling us how important it is and how often we should move. We all know we should but the doing is the difficult part. We are hardwired to expend as little energy as possible, in the case of danger and for all the hunting and gathering for food and materials. In these contemporary times, there is very little danger and most of us have sedentary jobs/lifestyles. However, our brain hasn’t evolved as quickly as technology and therefore getting motivated to move is a task in itself. The good news is there are things you can do that will help you get moving and stick to your exercise routine. 

Motivation comes from an emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition). Simply, we need to find the reason or desire for why we want to exercise.

In a previous article, What is The Best Form Of Exercise, we talked about finding your why. Once you have the reason, it is a good time to start! Try these suggestions for finding your reason/s and sticking to your exercise regime. 

1. Set a Goal.

 We are goal setting all the time - saving for a holiday, getting a promotion at work, starting a family, buying a car, the list is endless. The same goes for exercising. Set yourself actionable, trackable and reasonable goals. For example if you want to be able to do a Pull Up. You might start with lifting small weights and assisted pull-ups and gradually increasing the load. Seeing your progression is excellent for boosting motivation because you have a clear view of where you started and where you are at now. 

In the studio we see this often. As an example, a few years ago a client came to us and every movement was difficult, painful and restricted. Working through these barriers slowly by breaking down the exercises, we increased range of motion, flexibility and strength, while decreasing pain and fear of movement. We always set new goals to work towards so there’s no chance of getting bored and seeing the improvements motivates both of us to continue getting better. 

2. Start small.

No one wants to be a beginner. When we start something new, no matter how fit, strong and flexible we think we are, we have to start at the beginning to learn the fundamentals. Having body awareness is great, and you might progress quicker than others but you still have to understand the nuances of what you are doing. I can dance, do pilates and yoga and consider myself to have great body awareness but I would be terrible at a game of tennis because I’ve never played, I don’t know the techniques to hold a racquet or the rules. I would have to start at the beginning and build my knowledge, technique and stamina. And that is so motivating! To learn something new and get better at it over time. 

3. You can turn anything into exercise

You don’t have to sign up to a yearly gym membership to do exercise. Think of what you enjoying doing and what your goals are. If you love the outdoors and want to get stronger you may want to choose outdoor group fitness. If you love the ocean maybe you start ocean swimming. If you want to spend more time with the grandkids run around in the park with them for an hour a day. If you have specific issues like chronic pain and you want to be pain free, a comprehensive Pilates studio might be what you’re looking for. Comprehensive Pilates instructors are highly trained and tailor exercises specifically for your goals and needs. 

The important thing to remember is that you should enjoy what you’re doing, feel challenged and see improvement in your overall health and wellbeing. 

Central Pilates Intro Pack