The Importance of Exercise Variability in Achieving Your Movement Goals
Have you ever Googled, “What is the best workout for ____?”
I know I have.
For a long time, I was so obsessed with figuring out what workout was the “best” in the world.
I wanted results, I didn’t care how I got them.
Here’s the problem I quickly ran into: I didn’t enjoy it.
I was so focused on the destination, that I didn’t focus on the journey.
The issue with that is:
You’ll burnout, quick.
You’ll lose interest, quick.
Both of those, lead to inconsistency.
Inconsistency leads to a loss of hope and confidence. Self-doubt creeps in. Not to mention, now you’re just not working out at all. It feels harder to jump back in, once you haven’t moved in a while.
Let me tell you how you fix that:
Stop focusing on finding the “best” workout on the planet and focus on finding the “best” workout for YOU.
Find a way to move your body that you enjoy, and want to do often. And don’t stop there. Find MULTIPLE ways.
Because, wouldn’t it suck to go to a restaurant and only have one option of food to choose from? Ok, maybe it would be cool to start. Only one option? So simple. No stress. But, maybe one day you don’t feel like that meal. What now? Just don’t eat?
This is why I firmly believe in exercise variability (or flexibility).
Let me give you an example of what that looks like.
Here’s what my pie chart might look like right now:
During COVID, it looked way different:
During COVID, I didn’t feel like weight lifting in the least bit (as you can tell). Something about the weight of the world feeling so heavy made me not want to lifting anything else that was heavy. I got super into yoga (the calmness, the sense of stability, presence and grounding) and I loved walking and running outdoors (after being stuck inside all day, that’s an obvious one). There was a stint where I got really into running, so during that time the chart may have looked a bit more different as well.
The point is, I found ways to move that felt right in that moment.
I did not judge the way that looked. What I was, or was not, doing.
I was just focused on continuing to move to nourish my body, in the way that it felt like it needed at the time.
That’s the importance of what I called exercise variability (or flexibility).
The more you explore different types of exercise, the more options you give yourself and the less likely you are to not move at all. It’s not about the “perfect” workout, it’s just about moving consistently. If I really don’t “feel” like weight training, that’s fine, I have SO many other things I can do instead depending on how I’m feeling. If I didn’t have the option, I might not do anything at all.
You don’t have to moan and groan and grind through doing something you don’t like.
So stop focusing on trying to like something you don’t, and focus more on what you may enjoy instead.
Maybe you’d like surfing.
Maybe you’d like rock climbing.
Maybe you’d like HIIT.
Maybe you’d like Hip Hop.
Etc.
Don’t judge.
If you haven’t been able to tell already, I’m really passionate about helping people find joy in movement. So much so, that I made a guide to help you choose a workout you actually “feel” like doing.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can get it here:
Hope it helps :) If it does, let me know by sharing on Instagram!
If you’re looking for a safe space where you'll receive support and guidance in achieving your health goals, you're right where you need to be :) Submit a client application to receive your free 15 min consultation with me. I work with clients all over the world-changing their relationship with their health and wellness so that they can reestablish trust in their bodies and feel empowered and confident that they’re always making the best decision for themselves.
Hi, I’m Azul Corajoria, an Integrative Health Coach, Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor. I support my clients in making step-by-step changes so that they can live a healthy and balanced life. By utilizing lifestyle and behavior adjustments with an emphasis on self-care, I guide and support my client’s in achieving their health goals and bridging the gap between where they are now and where they want to be.
