This past Spring, I challenged myself to include more variety in my workouts. After a long Winter, I found myself in a workout rut and I knew I needed to mix things up.
In May, I fell in love with Hot Yoga and it renewed my enthusiasm for trying new forms of exercise. Since then, I’ve been mixing things up almost everyday and my body is the happiest its been in a while! I thought I would share the workouts that I’m excited about this summer and maybe you can share what you’re loving too!
1) Spinning
[source]
If running gives me the ultimate workout high, spinning is a very close second. In university, I signed up for a couple 3 month spinning classes and I fell in love with spinning almost instantly.
One of my June Goals was to incorporate spinning back into my life and I’m so happy that I got back on the bike! I’ve been going about once a week and I look forward to the spinning high every time.
My only complaint about spinning is that I tend to get groin/crotch pain from the seat. However, this time around, I’ve been wearing my padded Pearl Izumi bike shorts (that I wore during our triathlon training) and they help a lot.
2) Short Distance Speed Running
Instead of focusing on long distance training runs and races like I did the past two summers, I decided I would focus on shorter speed runs this summer. I’m running a couple 5k races in the near future to celebrate my training!
Not only does speed training challenge my lungs, muscles, and mental stamina, but it also gives my joints a break from long-mileage runs. So far this summer, I haven’t had any aches or pains, which is a first for me when training. I must be on the right track…
3) High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) via hill walking
[source]
Some days it’s just too hot to workout outdoors, so I like to hit the treadmill and sweat it out inside. When I first started blogging, I was in love with treadmill hill walking and it also got my body in shape for my wedding (along with resistance exercises). When I crank up the incline between 10-15%, it’s one of the most intense workouts that I do. When a walk is harder than a run, you know you are pushing yourself!
High Intensity Interval Training is exercise that involves intense bursts of exercise (e.g., sprinting) followed by moderate intensity exercise (e.g., jogging) repeated in an interval format. It’s great because you can squeeze a powerful workout into a short amount of time and it’s also said to increase your resting metabolic rate for 24 hours post-exercise. I like to do hill walking intervals alternating with slow jogs (with decreased incline) for about 30 minutes. For more info, see this post.
4) Body Pump & 30 Day Shred
[source]
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not in love with weight lifting, but I love how it makes me feel (confident! strong!) and of course how it tones my muscles. I first started doing Body Pump back in university and I’ve gone through spurts with it over the years. I like going once a week and I also enjoy the Booty Camp Fitness and 30-Day Shred workout DVDs for a quick home strength workout.
5) At-home Yoga
In May, I went to over 22 hot yoga classes in 1 month and I was completely hooked. I debated buying a class pass for a while, but as soon as the hot weather hit I found that I didn’t crave the hot yoga classes like I did during our chilly Spring. For me, Hot Yoga is more desirable during cooler months. Lately, I’ve been doing at-home yoga once a week or if I’m sore after a workout.
6) Whittle My MIddle
In June, one of my goals was to rock out 2 Whittle My Middle sessions per week and I achieved this goal for the most part (except 1 week that I bailed on it). My core feels and looks stronger than it has in a while. Now that I’ve built up my ‘base’, I’ve been doing weekly core exercises to maintain the work I did in June. I do about 5 minutes of core work per week (of these core exercises). It’s just enough to keep my core strong without having to devote too much time to it.
7) Hiking
Don’t mind those two weirdos…you never know who you are going to bump into on a hike!
And don’t forget to rest…
My workouts would not be possible without 1-2 rest days per week. Rest days should be part of the weekly plan, just like any other workout!
And blizzards, lots and lots of blizzards.
What workouts are you enjoying this Summer?
I received some exciting news that I’ve been nominated in Chatelaine’s Women of the Year Contest, in the Hot 20 under 30 category! I’m honoured to be nominated among so many amazing Canadian women.
I remember reading about this contest in Chatelaine each year and thinking to myself how much I would love to make a difference. And you know what? I told myself that I would never be able to. I guess it goes to show that our negative thoughts are not always right and we can prove them wrong.
Please check out the nominees and VOTE for your favs!
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.” ~D.W.
You got my vote! Thanks again for being so inspiring. Congrats on the nomination!
Running is my first love, but I love how fiesty spinning instructors get!! Gives you that boost of energy to crank up your resistence!
Me too…they really push you, eh?
HIIT, Yoga and Spinning are my faves!! Love the way they feel and make my heart pump. Good for you for keeping up the variety, so much more fun that way!
I have always wanted to try Hot Yoga, but I don’t think we have it in my area. I love Body Pump! My new favorite workout is Zumba. I started in March and can’t get enough!
BTW – congrats on the nomination! You deserve it!
I love this post! It is so important to try new workouts and get involved in different activities — for your body and for your sanity. Love everything you included here.
I am really loving my weight routines where I incorporate intervals. It my heart rate stays up and (literally) keeps me on my toes the whole time.
LOVE all of these workouts. Lately I’ve encorporated spinning and incline walking into my routine and I am loving it. My legs are actually uber sore today…from incline walking! I didn’t know it was possible! :-P
Mine too…did a hill walking/run combo yesterday and man my legs feel like bricks today!
I am so upset that I have yet to find a gym in my area that offers body pump. I just want to to give a a try… once. I fear if I travel to try it out.. I will fall in love with it an then be heart broken when I simply can’t travel the distance to attend it regularly!
I’m focusing on running this summer because I’m training for a marathon in November…Eek! When I have time I love to cycle and do yoga on Friday or Sunday mornings. It’s so relaxing and it’s a nice break from all the pounding on my joints.
Good luck with your training!
Congrats on Chatelaine, thats amazing Angela!!! I was just reading that magazine in the lunch room, lol! Love all the workouts you mentionned and spin gives me a sore bum for days, i really need to try padded shorts :)
Love that hike photo, you two are adorable!
i voted for ya! you deserve it! congrats for being nominated and these are all really great work outs!
These are all great! I haven’t ever tried a spin class, but I love running — can’t run though, because it’s too hard on my knees. And I bike everywhere I go, so it seems that spin would be a natural alternative for me!
I’m really loving BodyPump this summer. I started going twice a week, and I’m really feeling toned and stronger!
I love lifting! I don’t do as much of it now but we do sometimes incorporate it into our routines at muay thai and it makes me feel great! Love hiking as well but I can’t seem to get the other half excited about it so I very rarely get to go! That last pictures a corker btw! Love it! :)
CONGRATS on Chatelaine Ange!!! :) I’m totally voting for you as soon as I submit this comment! I am not one to do much hill walking as I usually feel like running gives me the biggest bang for my buck, but it is something I’d like to incorporate into my workout regime. In addition to my usual running and teaching spin, I’m also planning to get out on my rollerblades this month, and at some point, hop in a pool and do some laps!! :)
Love the post, it is important to keep variety in your workout! This summer I am loving a class similar to body pump called power! I love that it works every muscle in my body. I have also started using a rowing machine along with my weekly running schedule! Congrats on Chatelaine! Very exciting, I voted for you, you deserve it!
Congrats on the nomination, that is awesome!
I love the variety of your workouts. I was really digging the combo of running + strength training I was doing until I threw my back out on Sunday. Now I’m focusing on recovery but I had never felt stronger right before it happened.
These all look like awesome. I can’t do many of these due to my own injuries, but I have fallen in love with yoga this summer. It makes me feel at peace with my body, which is what I need.
I’m a big fan of Yoga and Pilates but I still haven’t gotten into running (although I am trying…). Back in HS, I was a big fan of weight lifting but that ended when I no longer had access to a gym. Oh well.
PS – Congrats on the nomination! Good luck!!
I’m running and doing push-ups/crunches. Pretty low-key. Also going for walks and swimming with my kiddos. I like to think that my yard work counts as exercise too. :) I tend to get more into workouts in the winter, when I’m less active in the course of my normal routine.
You can def. get in exercise in sooo many forms in the summer! I also count gardening and yard work as exercise :)
I love all the workouts you listed, except the hot yoga — haven’t had a chance to try that one. I have recently fallen in love with pilates style classes (I never really did them before, but I am convinced that is what’s helping to draw my post-babies belly back where it belongs, hehe!) and swimming. I’m only in the pool a couple days a week, but I really dig lap swimming, especially at 5am – it’s so peaceful and the pool is virtually empty. :)