| Recently, I was trying to determine why certain | | | | work on machines, with weights, or on a track |
| people were faithful in attending my classes, while | | | | without contact with others. If, however, you |
| others worked out for awhile and then were | | | | enjoy group interaction, choose a class or a time |
| seldom seen again. Was it that the regulars were | | | | at the gym when others you enjoy are in |
| more disciplined and dedicated to fitness? Yes, | | | | attendance. Even though there is some distracting |
| partly. But, even more than that, I realized that | | | | conversation, I notice that when class participants |
| the regulars were having fun while exercising. And | | | | enjoy each other, there is a lot more fun and |
| because they enjoy it so much, they return day | | | | energy generated during the class. Those working |
| after day. So, let's examine the different ways | | | | out are laughing and smiling, singing and calling out, |
| we can have fun while exercising. | | | | and motivating each other. |
| Music can make a huge impact on your | | | | Quite a few of my students tend to stay around |
| enjoyment of exercise. | | | | for a time after the class to ask questions, talk |
| Whether you are working out at home or at the | | | | with me and/or each other, and encourage each |
| gym; walking, running, or jogging outside; or taking | | | | other. Another alternative is to run or walk with |
| part in a group fitness class, background music | | | | or to go to the gym with a friend or family |
| can enhance or even destroy the enjoyment of | | | | member. It will make the exercising more |
| your workout. When a group of class participants | | | | enjoyable and more regular. There may be a day |
| was asked what they felt was the most | | | | when one of you doesn't feel like working out, |
| important feature of an exercise class, the | | | | but the other will exert some pressure to do it |
| majority answered, "The music." We all have our | | | | anyway. And I generally find that even on the |
| favorite type of music, so in my classes I use | | | | days when I wake up far from enthusiastic about |
| tapes that offer variety and come from different | | | | exercising, once I start, I have fun! |
| time periods. I find that tapes and CDs with well | | | | Pick your form of exercise with care. |
| defined beats and vocals are the most popular - | | | | Very few people have the discipline to stay with |
| participants like to move to the rhythm and sing | | | | an exercise program they don't enjoy and have |
| along when they recognize a song. | | | | fun doing. I'm not saying that pushing and |
| When many of the students come up to me at | | | | challenging your body is always "fun and games" - |
| the end of a class and exclaim how much they | | | | you will experience resistance from your body, |
| liked the music, I make sure that I use that tape | | | | mind, and muscles. I am suggesting, for example, |
| of CD often. I play the tapes loudly enough to | | | | that if you don't like group activities, don't force |
| motivate, yet not so loud that they cause | | | | yourself to take a crowded fitness class - you |
| damage to the eardrums. If you work out | | | | won't have fun and you won't stick with it. |
| individually, I suggest that you invest in some | | | | If you enjoy competitive sports, you can find |
| high-energy tapes with music you enjoy. There is | | | | others who will play tennis, racquet ball, squash, |
| nothing harder than exercising to no music. Time | | | | basketball, volley ball, or any other sport you |
| that usually is speeding by slows to a halt, and | | | | enjoy. Other great and fun forms of exercise |
| you will feel that you have put in an hour that | | | | include ice skating, roller skating, walking, bicycling, |
| turns out to be only five or ten minutes when | | | | hiking, swimming, and dancing. All of these can be |
| you look at the clock. | | | | practiced alone or with others and all of these |
| Choose your exercise partner and/or partners | | | | forms of exercise are readily available in the |
| with care. | | | | Cleveland area and can be pursued by all ages. |
| If you crave time alone because of a hectic life | | | | Ask yourself if you are having fun when |
| schedule, or you just enjoy being on your own, | | | | exercising. If you aren't, that may be why you |
| then exercise on your own - your exercise | | | | aren't exercising much or at all. Make it happen! |
| partner is you. Even if you go to a gym, you can | | | | |