Hi Readers
This week “On Your Mark Fitness Tips” talks about how scheduling and having fun can keep you wanting to
be active physically more often.
When I was a young lad the first over 30s soccer league started up. They truly seemed like fossils resurrected from the dead with extra pounds to shed!!
Now there are leagues for all ages and lots of over 50s dropping down to their younger over 40s teams to lend them a hand or foot as it might be.
I often admire the players that are in their 50s and have always played. Some have played for 50 or more years. Many participants play with 2 groups so they can get out 3 – 4x per week
.
What keeps them coming out? Hearing other home town accents? Their wives kicking them out to keep them trim so they doesn’t have to buy new cloths? Many would argue its mainly for the cold beer afterwards.
I think its also about the fact its scheduled 2 x per week and it makes it easy to commit to.
You join a group and the next thing you have played hockey and forged friendships with sports people in the community.
Scheduling workouts with groups where you have a connection is the best way to initiate relationships in the community.
Whether its the sport itself or kids who keep playing together after minor sports are over, the regular social interaction and the exercise will benefit the participants in the long term.
Whether you try a drop-in land or aqua fit class, Zumba, pickle ball, badminton or a walking or running group; do something you enjoy, that is fun. You will be more likely to continue.
There’s always a workout buddy to make you accountable. One boot camp Shelley conducts has the same 6 participants who have been working out together for 10 years.
They get together and the friendly bugging starts right away with each other, but the encouraging voices keep them sweating 2x per week.
Make your workouts fun to keep it interesting. Try putting Stickum Spray on your soccer ball. Sure does get the boys laughing when the goalie starts shaking his gloves to get the ball off of his now very sticky gloves.
Does makes the beer drinking conversation a little more fun?
Groups that train together often cross train for a change of pace and new stimulation. Yoga or volleyball as a new cross training sport is always fun.
So get out there readers and join a club, team, walking group or rec center activity, where you commit to a schedule and the next thing you know you are having fun and participating in your community.
Mark O’Neill and Shelley Donald are registered Personal Trainers.
Web: www.oneillconditioning.com
Email: oneillconditioning@hotmail.com
