Techno and Meatheads and Spandex-Oh My!

     Named by Passport Magazine as “the fittest city in the world”, Vancouver is literally plastered with gym billboards and boot-camp flyers. The vast majority of people here are indeed members of gyms or have once signed up for a boot-camp: the sad news is these companies really don’t care about your level of fitness, they get your automatic payment whether you attend or not- it is called the fitness business, after all.

      Though I still love a good emo tune, there is a way to be proactive about your camp/gym selection before signing up. Every reliable center ( except for some community centers because they are government funded) should give you a minimum one week free pass and some flexibility within the first month after that week. This flexibility is important because as humans, the first week of being in a new atmosphere is a rather optimistic one: our adrenaline, plans for future-bikinis and overall wishful thinking is really running the show- but our basic personalities are still there. As we are, sometimes we ignore the red-flags that will later turn into excuses for us to avoid the gym: the bad techno that is always blasting too loudly, the fluorescent lights that are too bright, the location being a bit off your commute or the overall atmosphere that is just plain sucky.  

      When you are settling down with a gym, make sure you want to go to the gym because you like your gym. If you actually can stand getting your foot in the door—the workouts will follow.

 

Love love,

 

Sasha ( "The Slayer") Tymkiw

The "trail-mix" of your workout ( and who doesn't like trail-mix?)

If you’ve noticed a theme to my blog, it's that of avoiding gym burnout. All too often we hit a stride at the gym and then suddenly, out of the blue… we stop.

From the volume of clients I have that report this problem to me, I’m tempted to call it a phenomena. Fortunately, Sci-Fi is WAY 1990's ,however,  this problem becomes an almost certainty for new or returning gym members.

"Gym-fatigue" affects everyone who passes through the gym doors, even…. Personal Trainers.

But what makes the difference between those who stop being active and those who continue onwards? It’s two things: accepting that your current program won't keep you satisfied forever, AND recognizing when this boredom is approaching- so you can DO something else.

 

A few years ago I read about switching up gyms, just for a week, to resurrect your life-less motivation. I’m the type of person who is really all or nothing, so I took this suggestion knowing that I was hitting a “low” in my routine ( and stretchy pants would soon follow-suit!). I took this suggestion one step further and got a guest pass to a new, nearby boutique gym. For one week I shut my head off (moving quickly without thinking has this power) and began submerging myself in new classes, faces and amenities of the gym.                         Did I join when the week was up? Nope. But it was just like a mini-vacation which let me come back to my gym, my responsibilities and my life re-energized and enthusiastic. Who knew that this one week could make such a difference? 

So back to you- I have a challenge for you. If you begin feeling avoidant of your gym at all, or are feeling just blasé about life- try the one week gym-pass vacation. Make a commitment to yourself: bring your workout clothes to work, change into them before you leave your work building ( trust me on this one) and turn off your phone.

After you’ve hit your first class, look at the class schedule and pick your next class before you leave the gym. Make your plan fool-proof: write it in your agenda and do it again tomorrow.

Not only will this strategy improve your glutes, but you'll also learn a few life lessons: like if someone asks you if you are interested in joining their gym and you say no.. You are still allowed a one week pass! Or you can say yes and lie, but I'm running an honest blog here ( Pssst. just tell them you are "looking around at different gyms" its the truth and no dishonesty!) There,! BAM! 2 life lessons!

You are welcome!

Love Sasha