What’s The Best Exercise For Your Personality Type?

It seems like not a month goes by without a new exercise trend hitting the headlines. So how do you pick the right exercise from a mind-boggling list of possibilities on offer at your local gym or elsewhere? Here are a few things to consider:

1. GOALS

What do you want to achieve? Weight-loss? Something that includes a social aspect? Are you looking to improve your physique or are you training for a race or event? Who or what is behind your decision?­ Is it for health reasons? Are you stuck in an exercise rut? Or, (fess up) are you being slightly swayed by models and celebrities with Insta-worthy abs and perfectly peachy butts?? Whatever your goals the first thing is to: Write. It. Down. Then it’s real! Place it somewhere you will see it every day (I keep mine in my underwear drawer but that’s a side point). Buddy up with a friend so you can motivate and keep each other accountable.

2. COMPARE AND TRY

Check out what’s on offer in your area and try to keep an open mind. If you are the outgoing type, you might be attracted to energetic, interactive classes like Fight Klub® for example, where participants box the living daylights out of a punchbag while yelling out ‘3-4-5!’ in time to an infectious drum n bass beat. If you have a quieter disposition that might be your worst nightmare! Perhaps you are drawn to Pilates or yoga, both of which are ideal for flexibility and core strength. Yoga, in particular, is a great way to start building muscle strength using just your own body weight. There’s truth in the saying, “if you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.” Trying something new that you wouldn’t naturally be drawn to could be just the thing to shake up your fitness routine or if you don’t have an established routine then who knows, it could be the start of something amazing! 

3. ASK THE EXPERTS

If you’ve just joined or are about to join your local gym and there’s a particular class you are interested in, ask one of the instructors there what level it is pitched at, whether it’s for a beginner or an advanced participant. The same class will often have different levels on at different days and times so you can pick the one best suited for you.

If weight-loss or improving your overall fitness is your main aim and you feel you would benefit from 1:1 attention you may consider hiring a personal trainer. A good trainer will be able to provide a challenging programme specific to your needs and will usually include a meal plan along with this. Speak to others who have trained with him/her and observe how they interact with their clients in the gym. Someone who spends their time on their phone while their client is slogging it out on the treadmill (unbelievable but we've witnessed this) is best avoided! Before you hire anyone do make sure they are REPS registered at www.exerciseregister.org

The gym may not be your thing and if you favour fresh air in your lungs then why not try outdoor workouts in the park? Parkrun hold timed 5k runs in parks all over the country each weekend and you can jog or run at your own pace. 

Perhaps your circumstances make it easier for you to workout at home, in which case no problemo, you can still achieve great results here too. The fact that anyone can upload an exercise video to YouTube though means it’s important to check the programme is being carried out by a fully certified and qualified instructor.

4. FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Yes, yes we know this article is about finding your perfect fit in terms of exercise but to ensure you are not working up a sweat in vain, including good nutrition as part of the whole package will ultimately get you the best results. When you have a healthy balanced diet that includes all the key food groups (yes, carbs too), and drink at least 2 litres of water daily, you will be giving your body the full range of nutrients it needs and you will feel so much better for it. Plus, you’ll find that once you start working out regularly you won’t want to undo all your hard work by filling your body with rubbish food. Equally, when you’ve eaten well, you will find you have heaps of energy to get through your normal working day and still have enough fuel in the tank to fire you through your workout.

So what are you waiting for? Run along and find your perfect fit!

Anita Smith, Personal trainer. @themissfit_pt

Photo Credit: Matthew Thorne
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