Ah, fitness month. For those of us that have already been hitting the gym hard leading up to the new year, it’s always an interesting time for reflection as others who have otherwise focused their exercise routine on fork lifting through the holidays, are already panting by the time they reach the front door. If you fall into the latter category, remember to set reasonable goals and to have the patience to let your mind and body adjust. From the Wall Street Journal, here are some of my favorite pointers by Jason Gay in his article “The 27 Rules of Conquering the Gym.”
1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.
4. No one in the history of gyms has ever lost a pound while reading “The New Yorker” and slowly pedaling a recumbent bicycle. No one..
6. Don’t fall for gimmicks. The only tried-and-true method to lose 10 pounds in 48 hours is food poisoning.
10. Beware a hip gym with a Wilco step class.
12. Nope, that’s not a “recovery energy bar with antioxidant dark chocolate.” That’s a chocolate bar.
13. Avoid Unsolicited Advice Guy, who, for the small fee of boring you to death, will explain the proper method for any exercise in 45 minutes or longer.
16. There’s the yoga instructor everyone loves, and the yoga instructor everyone hates. Memorize who they are.
19. If a gym class is going to be effective, it’s hard. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, you’re at brunch.
20. If you need to bring your children, just let them loose in the silent meditation class. Nobody minds, and kids love candles.
21. Don’t buy $150 sneakers, $100 yoga pants, and $4 water. Muscle shirts are for people with muscles, and rhythm guitarists.
23. Everyone sees you secretly racing the old people in the pool.
24. If you’re at the point where you’ve bought biking shoes for the spinning class, you may as well go ahead and buy an actual bike. It’s way more fun and it doesn’t make you listen to C+C Music Factory.
26. A successful gym membership is like a marriage: If it’s good, you show up committed and ready for hard work. If it’s not good, you show up in sweatpants and watch a lot of bad TV.
27. There is no secret. Exercise and lay off the fries. The end.
Check out Jason Gay’s full list of rules that are sure to help you keep the right sense of humor, purpose, and direction if you’re trying to get back into the gym swing of things. Remember that yoga is a wonderful compliment to any rigorous cardiovascular routine