The never-ending, perpetual downward scrolling of Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok douse our minds with stimulating content like the velocity of water coming out of a ruptured fire hydrant valve. As we scroll through our social media feeds, peering down at the three-by-six screen of our cellular devices, we have the privilege to view whatever content we desire. The content could be who the latest celebrities are dating, or our favorite foods. Other noteworthy topics available on social media are posts about health and fitness.
The delivery of health and fitness awareness brought in by social media is a helpful tool for encouraging our society to eat better foods, exercise, and live happier lives. Living in less pain, having more energy, and encouraging the ability to live longer are values the world can’t have enough of. However, a problem still remains present in our society regarding reaping positive outcomes in our fitness efforts. Sometimes, exercising isn’t fun. In fact, I’ve heard a few people say that showing up at the gym is like making a trip to the dentist. Nothing against our fellow dentists out there. Tooth health is of extreme importance. However, the idea of sitting in a chair with your mouth propped open for an hour, a pair of latex gloves moving around your tongue, and sharp metal objects prodding the gum line can be slightly unnerving. In some cases, the gym might offer the same experience to people who have similar feelings of discomfort.
Small group fitness biking classes, hot yoga classes, or Cross Fit sessions are valuable resources to encourage class participants to receive positive outcomes in a group setting. The gathering of exercise participants in biking classes follows along to the beat of enthusiastic spin instructors while motivating music blasts to promote endorphins throughout an hour-long cycling class. The relaxing breathing techniques in a local hot Yoga class allow participants to breathe and stretch for an hour. Let’s not forget our buddies at Cross Fit gyms. Lifting heavy weights, throwing things, and jumping around like chimpanzees with a few other like-minded individuals fit exercise participants’ interests who enjoy pushing their limits. Small group fitness classes from different activity categories offer life-enhancing results to their participants. That is, if the humans in the class enjoy these physical activities.
Being forced to do something brings out resentment. In some instances, individuals interested in improving their fitness don’t know where to start. So, local gyms, small group fitness classes, or personal training facilities offer entry-level discounts to try out their programs. While the goal of investing time into a fitness activity is to improve health and wellness, an activity that isn’t energizing and entertaining to an individual can be similar to getting a tooth pulled. While bright lights, fun music, and cheering during a biking class might be fun to some people, the overstimulation of strobe lights and loud noise can terrify others. A relaxing and laid-back Yoga class with soft meditation music and the instructor’s soothing voice could be enough to send a person with an upbeat “get it done” personality screaming out of the room. The clanging of barbells on the ground and heavy metal music in a Cross Fit facility might make a person make an immediate one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn by just taking a glance at the class setting.
Do these two paragraphs sound contradictory? They should.
The reality is that many forms of fitness applications are present in our society. We are incredibly fortunate to have an abundance of resources available from certified exercise professionals specializing in specific skills that cater to the vast array of people looking to enhance their health and wellness via an exercise routine. However, let’s not forget one of the most critical factors that present a successful outcome in a fitness program: consistency.
In order for efforts toward improving health via exercise to be effective, adherence to a routine must be applied. There’s no way around reaping the benefits of a fitness program if the tactics are inconsistent. Exercise one day per week and then avoiding exercise for two straight weeks does very little for an individual. Therefore, find exercise routines that are enjoyable, memorable, and that you look forward to. If the result of your exercise routine is that you had a fun time, you’ll probably go back to it. If the routine makes you feel good, you might be motivated to return to that activity. If the exercise setting gave you an unforgettable experience, the likelihood of wanting that feeling again is increased. Therefore, if we want to get the most out of exercise to refine our health and wellness, put the feeling of having fun during physical activity as a priority.
Sean McCawley, the founder and owner of Napa Tenacious Fitness in Napa, CA, welcomes questions and comments. Reach him at 707-287-2727, napatenacious@gmail.com, or visit the website napatenaciousfitness.com.
