New workouts to try this fall
Hi friends! How’s the day going? Hope you’re enjoying the morning. I’m so happy you loved the pumpkin bars recipe! I made them yesterday, and they’re already almost gone. Guess I’ll be making another batch. (For the record, they are amazing heated up with some coconut milk ice cream on top. Doo it.)
(Livi picked out these cheery sunflowers for the week)
Last night included some adventures at IKEA,
(pay no attention to the man behind the curtain)
and dinner at Oggi’s. It was my first time eating there, and for it being Monday night football, it was quite a scene. Sports fanatics always make for awesome people-watching, and the food was pretty good. I ordered a turkey burger with no bun, sweet potato fries,
(there is indeed a burger hiding under the lettuce blanket)
and a side salad.
This morning, I’m off to the chiropractor for some sweet relief. I’ll update more on the family page, but I’ve been having pretty intense Braxton Hicks contractions and was in some pain last night. Fingers crossed that today is a little more comfortable, and I’ll be taking it easy when I teach barre later today.
So today, I thought it would be fun to talk about ways to shake up your fitness routine this fall. When the seasons change, it’s an ideal opportunity to assess and switch up your fitness routine. Every 4-6 weeks is a perfect time frame to change up your modes, sets, weights, reps, anything to keep plateaus from kicking in. Remember that our bodies are intelligent machines and will give us what we expect from them. If you add additional stressors or new modes, your body will be forced to react (and change, becoming stronger, faster, more flexible, etc) as a result.
Here are some ideas for new classes or workouts to try as you go into fall!
Some of my tried and true favorites:
This goes down in history as one of my favorite workouts of all time. It’s scalable, the exercises are safe, you will work to your personal max, and it combines strength and cardio through circuits, treadmill intervals and rowing. The strength progressions and treadmill workouts change daily, so you may be working on max strength one day, power the next, and endurance the following. I can’t wait to make my return! My body will be sweating tears of joy.
The classic never dies! I’m always surprised to find out that there are quite a few people I know who have never taken a spin class. The idea of sitting on an bike for an hour can be intimidating, but you can get lost in the music, work in your own cardio zone, and get in an incredible workout. It’s also a low-impact option for those who want to minimize joint pounding.
The same thing goes for strength training for an hour; it can seem intimidating at first. The music makes the class fly by, and I love that each track workouts a particular muscle group to fatigue. BODYPUMP helped me to gain some lean muscle last year, when I first started teaching, and is an awesome challenge.
Barre (barre3, Pure Barre, or another local studio)
This is another one of my all-time favorite workouts. It’s low cardio -perfect for the days when you don’t want to leave covered in a sweat puddle- but will still work you to your personal max. While classes work the entire body, I noticed the most challenge and emphasis on the lower body exercises. They will make your thighs beg for mercy, and shaking like a leaf is totally normal.
This is how I fell in love with yoga! There are so many different styles of yoga out there, and I really believe that there’s a practice that’s suited for everyone. The heated rooms help to increase stretching ability (and make you sweat buckets), but I especially love the continuous movement; it feels like a dance.
CORE40, or any Pilates/spin hybrid classes using the Megaformer
It looks like a torture device, because… it is. In the best way possible. 😉 My core is always challenged in a new way, and I can’t wait to make it back there later this fall!
Beachbody faves, like TurboFire, Insanity and PiYo. I’ve been using the On Demand service (Les Mills has a great one, too!) and it’s convenient and effective for short at-home workouts.
Classes I personally can’t wait to try:
Paddleboard yoga. There are quite a few options here in San Diego, and I’m especially intrigued by the night classes. A light is attached to the bottom of the paddle board, and you can see the sea creatures (cool! or frightening?!) as you paddle around the bay. The board is anchored during practice, so you don’t have to worry about drifting away while you downdog.
POUND. I’ve been apprehensive about trying this, because I’ve taught a drumming/drumsticks/dance class, and it was the lamest thing ever haha. I jokingly called it “Drums of Death” each time I had to teach. I was talking to a friend about it, and she said, “This is nothing like that.” I will definitely be checking out a class, especially since they offer them in Tucson. It would be fun to try it out next time we’re in town!
Slacklining. This one I haven’t been able to do while preg -I KNOW I would fall- but think it looks like a lot of fun, and a great way to challenge balance. Has anyone tried this??!
Aerial yoga. This is another one I’m waiting to try out! It looks like a blast.
Are you changing up your routine this fall? Is there a new class you’re going to try?
Hope you have a wonderful morning, and I’ll see ya later on the Family page.
xoxo
Gina
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I changed up my routine last month. I like to switch things up every 3 months so my body goes wait, what? I’ve been doing a strength session at the gym for legs that incorporates Pilates, weight lifting and intervals. People always ask what the heck I’m doing, but I swear those tiny Pilates/Barre movements really make a difference and when you add squats, lunges & hip work to them it really is a good workout!
i totally agree. when you combine them with traditional strength training, the results are amazing
Soooo I live in OB, was wondering if you have a particular yoga studio to recommend? I’ve been doing OTF for a year, bodypumping for six months (can’t wait for the new release!), and I mix in my own strength and cardio workouts, but think I could use some yoga in my life!
Thanks!
i’ve been to happy-u in OB and really liked it. my favorite here is prana yoga, in la jolla.
I missed the pumpkin bars recipe but will have to go back and take a look! Loving all things pumpkin already. I have been taking bar method classes and am about to try yoga for the first time!
ohh i hope you love it!
I bought a slack line at IDEA! It’s the kids one but can work for everyone. Of course, I have yet to set it up!
i think it looks like so much fun!
They are opening an Orange Theory Fitness here so I am definitely going to try that. I usually make my workouts a little more challenging. Thanks for the great advice!!!
bakingrunner.blogspot.com
they usually offer first class free, too. hope you love it!
Thanks for this list! I would love to take Orangetheory and barre classes, but they don’t have them here in the middle of Nebraska ; ) I would also love to try SUP Yoga! I tried Pound, and didn’t love it. Mostly because it was so loud : )
barre online workouts are awesome if you don’t have a studio near you. i love the physique 57 and barre3 ones 🙂
Awesome! Thanks!
Paddleboard Yoga seems so interesting to do, although im not a fan of yoga personally, the paddleboard might give it a bit more vavavooooom x
Leanne’s Lifestyle Blog
i think it would definitely be more challenging!
I do slacklining! But I don’t consider it a workout. More like, a great way to get outside and be active on a lazy weekend afternoon. It is VERY challenging but in a more technical way. With that said, I’m sure it does work my core and my legs, just not to the extent I would consider it a workout like anything else.
good to know. are you sore afterwards or not really?
I bought a slackline a couple of years ago (Gibbon brand). I’ve never taken the time to master it, but I keep it in my car trunk and pull it out for family picnics and holidays. It’s always a huge hit, people have a lot of fun with it, and we often make new friends (every time we set it up at a public park, little kids come up and ask to try it, so of course we let them). Having said that, I really would like to get better at it–I think balance is something that needs to be trained, just like any other part of the body. BTW–I’m also working on my unicycle riding (and I’m a lot older than most readers of your blog–doing silly things keeps you young!).
i totally agree that silly things keep you young. that is awesome that 1) you have a unicycle and 2) you can actually ride it. 🙂
I love all types of workout classes but I still have never tried spin! This is a good kick in the pants to give it a shot – they do offer it at my gym. 🙂
let me know if you give it a try!
I love barre! And I’m adding more pilates back into my life!
I was a runner for so long, but when we moved, so did our running path. It encouraged me to try new fitness classes and I’m so glad it happened! I am currently loving barre and spin class! I go to a Body Pump class every now and then, and when I do I always say “I need to come more!”
it’s such a great workout! that’s awesome it encouraged you to try some new things. moving always does that for me, too!
I would love to try a barre class. There are a few different studios in my area. Time (and sometimes $$) are usually my biggest obstacles, though. There is an OTF opening soon (as in the next month-ish) in my area and I do think I am going to splurge and give that a shot if the class schedule will fit into my life. I used to be a personal trainer, but have fallen in love with running the past few years. I pushed myself this year and signed up for 7 half-marathons (completed 5 so far). I think I need to give my body a break after the last schedule 1/2 at the end of October! Aaaaand OTF seems like a great change to try!
I lol’d at that pic of the pilot behind the curtain hahaha
Reading this made me realize I should probably shake things up a bit, since I tend to the do the same workouts most of the time.
My friend Jessica teaches POUND at Xplicit fitness! You should definitely contact her to try out a class!! Also, her cardio dance classes are amazingggg
Pound is actually a ton of fun. I tried it with the creators a few years ago and it was an absolute blast! Very high energy.
I tried paddle board yoga this summer (it was in a pool; I live in the mid west). It was HARD! I have done yoga on and off for a few years (in an off period right now) and have fairly good balance, but I ended up swimming a few times! It probably doesn’t help that I did a strength session literally right before the paddle board yoga.
My gym recently started POUND and I love it!! I thought it would be hokey, but my fave instructor was teaching it so I stuck around. Holy squats!! My sides begged for mercy in the best possible way. Sometimes the moves don’t always seem to flow as easily as you would think coming from a dancer’s perspective.
They just started offering PIYO at the studio where I attend classes. Also love another new one Hoop! Great workout, fun class! Finally, for mind/body, Ive been taking a newish class called Tap n’ Pow {her}!
ohhhh i need to try hoop!
I feel like hooping could be a challenge for you right now (lol), but definitely put it on your list for this fall!
it would be pretty comical 🙂
What happened to the plan to try Jazzercise?
i’m still going to! the only time it works with my schedule is over the weekend when tom is home, and last weekend was too busy in the am
I’ve been wanting to try an Orangetheory class ever since I read about them on your blog but there weren’t any locations near me. They’re opening up several new ones soon so now I’ll be able to try out a class, I’m pretty excited about that.
yay, i hope you love it!!