Finding a New Routine
Working out is supposed to be fun. Just look at this girl crunching—doesn’t she look like she’s having the best time? Ahem, I digress.
But again, working out is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be a way for you to treat yourself right, to have a good time and reap endless benefits. For a while, running was fun for me. Currently, it is the farthest from fun. Our tastes for fun ebb and flow like the carriage of a Pilates reformer. So I’ve been trying to get a feel for what brings me enjoyment and sweat at the same time.
Soccer has always done this for me, so this season, to replace a day of running, I signed up for a second day of soccer. Easy peasy. But what else could I do? What else was going to bring me the joy and the physical benefits I craved?
In my life, I’ve tried many things. I took karate lessons seriously enough and long enough to have a birthday party at the dojo. I played softball and basketball for many years. I swam at NYSC until there were no more levels of classes for me to take. I played roller hockey at summer camp. I took tennis lessons. I even registered for a rollerskating club that never kicked off because I was the only one who signed up. Of all the things I’ve tried to stay active, soccer has been the only one to stick. But now that soccer is not enough, where do I go from here?
To start, I downloaded ClassPass (which is currently offering a free month-long trial, and nobody is paying me to tell you this). I’d heard many great things from friends about ClassPass and how it lets you get a feel for all the exercise classes at your disposal in NYC. That’s partially true. Based on the limitations of the free trial, I was able to get in four different classes before my credits ran out. I am now paying for ClassPass (sucker).
There were some things I knew would not be for me. I wasn’t going to sign up for a dance class. (No real explanation needed there, if you’ve ever seen me dance.) I wasn’t going to sign up for anything like SoulCycle. I’ve had my experiences with spinning, and I am hoping they are squarely in the past. I wasn’t too interested in HIIT workouts or circuit training. But even with these doors loosely closed, there were other options for me. This is NYC, after all.
I had taken a weekly mat Pilates class at college, but I had never tried a reformer before (for those who are unfamiliar, it is a form of Pilates that takes place on a special machine). So I signed up for a class. I loved it. The movements were low-impact but tough. I could feel myself testing my strength and flexibility. The instructor was helpful and easy to follow. And it was an intimate, low-stress setting that made the workout fly by. At the end of class, I was sweating and shaking but happy. I had tried something new and liked it.
I do believe I’ve written in the past about my love for routine. And now, routine is what I am after. I’ve signed up for several classes across several different Pilates studios near my apartment, to get a feel for what I like best. But my plan is, once I know which studio best matches the vibe I am looking for, to become a regular. I want to have 2-3 classes a week on my schedule, ideally before work. I want to continue to pursue this type of exercise, because it feels good in many ways. I want to fall back in love with a routine that energizes me and makes my body happy.
Taking care of my body means a lot to me. So when I started falling out of love with running, I got scared. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to uphold my desired level of fitness without it. I am glad that I have found a new way into fitness. At least for now, Pilates will fill the gap that running left. I even bought grippy socks; I’m committed to making it work.
Working out is supposed to be fun. I am doing my best to make it so. I think I will ask for a new Pilates clothing set for my birthday. Until then, catch me wearing race t-shirts among the lululemon. Find whatever works, and work it.