ALL IN THE MIX: THE BOUNDLESS BENEFITS OF CHANGING UP YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE

“Exercise doesn’t have to be miserable,” says fitness trainer Tyler Vivian. If this is news to you, please sign up for a class at The Corner Studio ASAP! Our trainers are dedicated to making workouts fun, approachable, and highly effective. Anyone who prioritizes health and wellness in their daily lifestyle understands that striking a balance is key. We maintain that equilibrium with variety in the food we eat, the people with whom we engage, and the passions we pursue. Our fitness practices should reflect some range, too.

The Corner Studio offers a variety of classes that are meant to inspire a well-rounded fitness regimen—from mindful Meditation, restorative Yoga, and core-strengthening YoStrong, BOSU, Barre, and Sculpt to higher-impact HIIT, Cardio Dance, and Bootcamp. We’re always working hard to provide clients with fresh ways to be active and support good physical and mental health.

If you’re working out on autopilot, it might be time for a change. That doesn’t mean you have to dump your workout completely; rather, adding a new activity, or even a new movement within your beloved routine, may help you better achieve your personal fitness goals or challenge your mind and body in a refreshing and positive way. Take it from the pros: Here, three of our trainers weigh in on the benefits of switching up your workouts.

Lindsay Perrigan (Cardio Drills & Tone, BOSU Pilates Core, Bootcamp)

• Be a well-rounded athlete. Lindsay recommends “doing some form of cardio to keep your heart healthy, weight training to build calorie-burning muscle and prevent osteoporosis, and something for your mind, like meditation.”

• Keep the body guessing. By constantly changing up exercises, we avoid a fitness “plateau,” or becoming adjusted to a certain workout where we are no longer seeing results that were previously noticeable. “Your body gets used to moving in a certain direction or lifting a certain amount of weight, therefore stimulating the body less and resulting in less calories burned or less muscle being built,” says Lindsay.

• Challenge yourself. When those 5-pound dumbbells aren’t cutting it anymore, Lindsay says, “Try to lift heavier!”

Carmie Buhalis (Yoga)

• Just add yoga. “Incorporating yoga into your weekly routine can complement other physical workouts, like cardio, HIIT, and weight training,” says Carmie. Because yoga aids in developing muscular strength, balance, and flexibility, together these can all reduce the risk of injury from other forms of exercise or training. Not to mention, it also helps to improve mental focus and breathing efficiency—even when we’re at rest.

• Start small. Carmie believes even five minutes a day of something new can make a huge difference. “You can benefit from including a few shorter practice sessions (i.e., 20-30 minutes) more frequently during the week, as opposed to doing one long session once or twice a month,” she says.

Tyler Vivian (Total Body)

• Diversify. According to Tyler, “There is no end-all-be-all best exercise.” Instead, our workouts should reflect the demands of our sport or personal objectives. Tyler advises to identify the goal of the exercise you’re doing and then figure out how to achieve that same stimulus with a different movement.

• Change your surroundings. “Even the smallest changes in your environment can cause big spikes in motivation,” says Tyler. To shake things up he suggests exercising outside at a park or outdoor gym setting or trying a new piece of equipment.

• Seek joy. “I believe [exercise] is a necessity for a fulfilling and happy life,” says Tyler. “The key is finding an activity that you enjoy and can stick to, or a person, group, or environment that you enjoy being around to get through it.”

We’ve certainly found ours! Sign up for outdoor classes at Kerby Field on our website or The Corner Studio app and enjoy free virtual classes via Instagram Live @thecornerstudiogp (see weekly virtual schedule below).

Monday

Monday Meditation @ 10:00am

Cardio Drills & Tone @ 11:00am

Wednesday

Yoga Express @ 9:00am

Saturday

Cardio Dance @ 9:30am

Barre @ 11:00am

See You at The Corner!