Have you ever gotten into a workout rut? Suddenly your usual routine feels stale, you’re slogging through classes you normally love, maybe your energy is lower, and your motivation drops. While a bummer, this happens to everyone from time to time. Mixing up your workout routine is a great way to reinvigorate yourself – and it can also be really great for your fitness! Both your body and your brain reap the benefits of trying new activities. Here are X positive outcomes to switching things up.
- Prevent injury
Overuse injury or “repetitive strain injury” can occur if you work the same muscles over and over. This happens from putting your body repetitive motions. When you change the type of workout you’re doing, you give your most-used muscles a chance to rest and recover. Which leads us to the next benefit…
- Build new muscles
When you mix up the types of exercise you do, you naturally engage different muscles that might not always get as much attention. Unless you have specific targeted fitness goals or are a professional athlete, a good approach is to do a little of everything. Up your stamina with cardiovascular activity, put those muscles to work with some weights, and increase your flexibility with low-impact body weight movement. It’s all beneficial to your overall health.
- Get results
People come to the gym with all different goals for their workout. Whether you’re aiming to hit a certain rep count, lift at a heavier weight, or just want to move your body in ways that feel good, changing things up can push you in the right direction. When you do the same activity consistently over time, your body gets used to it. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, introducing new movement will challenge you and help you grow.
- Discover a new passion
Your new favorite workout could be the next new thing you try! While routines are great, they can also prevent us from branching out. Are you normally a high-intensity exerciser? Maybe a lower-impact activity like barre or pilates will engage your brain and body in a totally new and welcome way (and trust us, you will feel the burn). Usually hit the gym solo and do your own thing? Try a class, maybe you’ll be your new best workout bud!
MINT offers over 60 classes per week in a variety of formats. Offerings include cycling, HITT, rowing, strength training, barre, pilates, yoga, dance, and more. Equipment in the open gym is updated consistently as well, with new machines being added regularly. We encourage you to try one new thing this week! Whether a new-to-you class (check out our new stretching workshop on the weekends!), a different time of day, or a higher/lower intensity workout, let us know how it goes.
Do you love a routine? Or are you more of a “try something new every week” kind of person? However you choose to move your body, we’re here for it!