Maximizing your movement this fall, revitalize your health routine
By Jennifer Morrell
Don’t look now health and wellness warriors, but the seasons are changing. Gone is the oppressive humidity (kind of) and in are the cooler, more inviting fall days. But wellness is wellness, right? Staying motivated is all that matters. We sat down with Decatur health and wellness experts Marci Nessing, owner of Body20, and Alex Allyn, owner of StretchLab, to get their take on how to build and maintain your fall regimens.
Think outside the box
Beyond lifting weights and cardio classes, there are myriad physical activities you can undertake. One type of functional fitness everyone can adopt is stretching. Whether you’re looking to improve sports performance, increase range of motion and flexibility, or reduce muscle and joint pain, hitting a StretchLab can help.
These professionally assisted stretching routines are led by Flexologists who tailor stretches to your needs—and talk you through the movements. And thanks to the revolutionary 3D body scanning tool MAPS, you can get information on how well your body is moving.
“Doing different things for yourself is important. People need diversity in their movement as well as recovery,” Allyn says. “Repetitive activities take a toll, whether that’s at your desk or the same exercise routine. We try to help build strength in range of motion, which helps prevent injury and increases sports performance. We help people get active and stay active because they simply feel better and stay injury free. You have to plug into your health and have some kind of activity.”
Maximize your efforts
It’s not all about how much time you spend on your routine, but what you do during that time. The best exercise plan is the one that works. The beauty is there are traditional and non-traditional ways out there that can help you find your groove without spending hours in a gym.
Take the 20-minute strength and cardio sessions offered by Body20—sessions that create more than 150 times more muscle contractions than a conventional workout. By donning an FDA-cleared EMS suit with electrodes, you can burn calories, reduce cellulite, and tone up and build lean muscle.
“Seasons are changing,” Nessing says. “We’re going to get back into the routine. Life’s getting busy, so spend less time in a traditional gym and leverage innovation in tech. Give it 40 minutes a week, or 20 to 40 minutes a week, and you can get all the results you need.”
Fall into a fresh routine
Fall weather enables you to adapt your routine to different environments and conditions. Spending time in the crisp fall air can boost your mood and reduce stress, providing a refreshing change from indoor workouts.
Setting your clock back an hour (translation: It gets dark earlier), means you are tempted to skip a gym workout. Finding a fitness routine outside the gym helps you stay consistently active. Varying your activities to include the outdoors keeps your routine exciting and prevents burnout, making it easier to stick with your fitness goals.
Immune support is another strong benefit of regular physical activity, especially outdoors. A strong immune system is crucial as colder weather brings an increase in those nasty head colds. Why not give yourself a head start in the fight against the cold and flu season?
