GOOD
Busting the 5 Big Barriers to Exercise
Fitness
I
’m too busy to exercise.” “It’s hard to motivate myself.” “I’m too tired.” “I don’t know what to do.” “I might get hurt.” Sound familiar? Whether you are new to exercise or have been at it for years, these barriers to exercise regularly pop up and sidetrack us from our best intentions. If you find exercise escaping you, identifying what your most frequent barriers are and then choosing solutions that resonate with you are key to seamlessly incorporating exercise into your life. Try these winning strategies to bust through the top five barriers to exercise. Prepare to meet those exercise speed bumps along the way, strategize your responses ahead of time, and then celebrate your wins and the joy of exercise along the way to keep you motivated and coming back for more.
BY TAMMY UYEDA, BSc(PT)
01: Time “I’m so busy! I just don’t have time to exercise.” As the most-often quoted barrier for not exercising, the lack of time is one of the most formidable hurdles to overcome. If your approach has been to “fit it in” when you can, exercise will find its way to the bottom of your priority list. Purposefully scheduling exercise in is imperative. T H E TIM E BA RRIER B USTER
Pair exercise with something you already do You take your kids to soccer twice a week Try this > Bring your runners and do a H.I.I.T. & Run Workout (see last issue) at the park during soccer practice. Tuesdays and Thursdays are your crazy Zoom days Try this > Pre-schedule breaks and pull up your favourite yoga app on your smartphone for a 30-minute mat session. Binging Netflix is your evening thing Try this > Set up your tablet in front of your treadmill and commit to breaking a sweat while you watch your favourite characters.
Elevate your walk or run by using structures or landmarks (such as a bench for push-ups) as an impromptu strength or cardio station along your route.
TAMMY UYEDA, BSc(PT) is a clinical Physiotherapist, certified group fitness instructor and owner of FitSpark Health. She is passionate about motivating and inspiring people to live an active lifestyle and can usually be found shuttling her three pre-teen and teenaged sons between soccer fields. She shares workouts, exercise tips, and her favourite fitness-related finds on her Instagram page.
tinkam
the good life The Magazine of Nature’s Fare Markets | 16
