Getting into the swing of staying active is no easy feat. But with mental health awareness on our minds, we know that the importance of fitness goes far beyond the physical benefits. Which is why we want to take away the fear of fitness and give beginners the confidence to get moving.
Exercise doesn’t have to be intimidating. We aren’t talking about suddenly dropping into the deep end of weightlifting or triathlons, but instead finding the types of exercise that are both manageable and work within your lifestyle. Whether that’s walking, yoga, or running. Whatever your preference, we have fitness tips for beginners to take away that fitness fear.
Walk Your Way to a Healthy Mind
The most accessible and entry-level exercise you could do would be walking. You don’t even have to contend with the more difficult walking, like hikes up a mountain. Just a walk around the block or through your local park will help you get the steps in whilst allowing you to enjoy nature and the fresh air. If it’s 15 minutes or an hour, whatever the distance or length of time, it’s about getting moving, so don’t put pressure on yourself.
Our biggest fitness tip to get into walking is to make an event of it. If you have a dog to walk, that immediately gives purpose. Otherwise, it might feel a little strange to just take yourself out for no reason. But remember, the purpose is the walk itself.
So, to make more of a moment out of your walk, get yourself into some comfortable clothes and prep yourself with entertainment. That could mean finding a friend to walk with, or putting on your headphones, grabbing your Stanley cup, and popping on a podcast or playlist as you go.
Essentially, it’s about taking one thing you enjoy and bringing it into the activity. Which means, whatever way you like to relax, combine it with walking. If you love to be social, invite a walking buddy. If you like your space, enjoy your own company and listen to your favourite tunes or podcasters.
Walking won’t solve all your problems, but it will give you a chance to connect with nature, give your brain some breathing room, and allow you to enjoy some fresh air. All whilst looking after your body too!
Make Yoga Your Go-To
If the calmness of walking appeals but doesn’t engage your body in the ways you wish, perhaps yoga is the activity for you.
Our workout advice when it comes to yoga is to decide what suits you best: Being in a group or on your own. The great thing about yoga is that there are classes EVERYWHERE. You are never short of finding a yoga session in your local area, so if you love attending a class with other people, yoga is a great one to get involved in. Often, classes are catered to all abilities with alternative moves for the beginners and the advanced students. Or there are even classes split into abilities, so you can join the one that suits your personal level.
Beyond in-person classes, it is super accessible on YouTube. With loads of tutorials and series to follow from home. So, if you’re one to prefer to work out alone, yoga could still be the activity for you. Some of our favourite yogis on YouTube include Yoga with Adriene, Yoga with Kassandra, or Jess Yoga, but there are loads more to choose from too.
Yoga is all about engaging your body in flexibility and strength, whilst being mindful and relaxing. Another tip for all your yoga beginners is to persist. Being good at yoga only comes if you stick with it. Naturally, your body won’t start off flexible or strong (unless you’re used to yoga or similar activities). But that’s not to say you won’t get there. Consistency is key! Stick at it and we guarantee you’ll begin to love it more and more.
Just Run With it
Walking is one thing, but running is the next step up. That doesn’t mean that it has to be scary, though; running can be freeing and energising, as well as good for your body. It just takes a little getting used to. No one said running was easy, but no one said you had to be running crazy distances in crazy times either! Run at your own pace and you’ll always win the race… because it’s just about getting moving.
With running, you have many of the same benefits as walking, from the nature and fresh air aspects. It just requires a little more energy. But getting your heart racing once in a while can be invigorating, too!
Our running advice and top tip would be to trust the process. Start off small and build up your distances. And most importantly, don’t worry about the time! Becoming bogged down in what pace you’re running at can take the joy out of the run. Instead, run to what feels comfortable, at a pace you could happily hold a conversation at. That way you know you’re not pushing yourself beyond your limits and can genuinely enjoy the feel of the run.
Importantly, the right running shoes can be the difference between injury and not. The best thing to do to ensure the right shoe is to get your gait analysis done. This is where you go to a running shop, and they’ll get you on the treadmill just to check the placement of your feet when you run. Once they determine this, they’ll be able to advise what is the best trainer for you. Getting the correct trainer will reduce the likelihood of knee pain, hip pain, or shin splints.
