Movement Spotlight: Consistency
Consistency > Catching Up
We talk a lot about consistency when it comes to exercise, but I think we sometimes confuse being consistent with being perfect.
This is what I see during challenges: you set a goal to work out every day this week. Monday and Tuesday go great. Wednesday gets busy and you miss your workout. Thursday feels like you have to do two workouts to catch up, and by Friday it’s easy to decide you’ll just start fresh again on Monday….then the cycle repeats or falls off completely.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone!
The problem is in the expectation setting not with you. When we set expectations that are too big from the start we can’t be consistent. If your plan requires an hour-long workout every day, but your actual life only allows for that occasionally, then of course it will be demoralizing.
Instead, I like to think about building a movement routine that is flexible but predictable.
Start With the Bigger Picture
Rather than deciding exactly what workout has to happen every day, think about what you’d ideally like to fit into a week.
For a well-rounded movement routine, that might look something like:
2–3 days of Pilates
2 days of strength training
1 day of cardio of your choice
1–2 days of rest + walking
And these categories don’t have to live in separate boxes. You might take a Pilates class and go for a long walk on the same day. You might add a short cardio session after strength training. Your rest day might still include walking around the city. You can be flexible with the day depending on how you feel, but you have a predictable routine.
What Helps Me
I’m a better teacher when I’m in class…so I make it a priority to get to a class someone else is teaching 3x/week: 2x strength and 1x Pilates. I like the teachers at my studios on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, so that’s my split.
I like taking dance class with a teacher who teaches on Thursdays and weekends so I get my cardio in on one of those days. That leaves me with walking and rest days on Sunday and Monday.
I like this schedule because it’s predictable, but if I need to switch it up I will! For ex: if I’m too tired for a Thursday night dance class I do it on the weekend. It helps me be consistent to have a schedule to look forward to.
You can do this at home with the live classes or weekly workout as a built-in guide for your Pilates days!
More Routine, Less Rigidity
That’s what we’re focusing on in this month's Back to School Challenge. A little bit (mostly 20-30 mins) every day. Some days that will mean a full workout, some days it might mean 20 minutes, some days it means resting and taking a walk.
I will be here for extra support and so will the community. Looking forward to moving consistently over the next two weeks!
