How to Design Your Workout to Match Your Personality

How to Design Your Workout to Match Your Personality
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When it comes to exercise, one size does not fit all. You will be much more likely to stick to a fitness program if it meshes well with your personality and goals, according to Rodale.com. If you are mainly interested in retaining physical mobility, you might be satisfied with exercise provided by everyday activities like walking and gardening. If you are seeking to learn something new, you might consider taking a class such as yoga, tai-chi or square dancing. Joining a gym will provide you with many exercise options. Performing an evaluation of your fitness personality will ensure that you stay motivated in meeting your workout goals.

Step 1

Sign up for activities that provide lots of opportunities for socialization if you are an extrovert. You might enjoy group aerobic or an indoor cycling class. You can also seek out others who share your sports enthusiasms by joining a running, biking or hiking group.

Step 2

Go for a workout that demands concentration if you are more of an introvert. Yoga, swimming, walking or running are all workouts that will provide you the opportunity to focus attention on your body’s movement and form.

Step 3

Compete. If you are independent and driven to compete in your work life, you will probably enjoy competitive sports such as racketball or tennis, which demand not only physical skill, but also a strong motivation to win.

Step 4

Cooperate. Pick a team sport if you are more interested in cooperation than competition. Intramural volleyball, basketball and softball leagues usually place more emphasis on spending time with friends than on winning. Such sports can provide you with the right mixture of fitness and fun.

Step 5

Chart your fitness goals if you are a detail-oriented personality. Whether it’s losing inches from your waist or increasing the weight you can lift, tracking achievements is a real motivator for some. You might also enjoy sports such as baseball and golf, where rules play an important role.

Step 6

Be flexible. Choose a workout that is open to experimentation if you are the sort of person who finds rules constraining. A dance class will allow you to express your creativity. You might also enjoy yoga or Pilates because most instructors provide a variety of options for achieving a movement or pose. If you enjoy an element of risk-taking, you might want to try rock or wall climbing.

Step 7

Stabilize your routine. Pick a workout based on your need for stability and consistency. If you thrive on routine, look for gym classes taught by the same instructor at a regular day and time. If you have a patient personality, you will appreciate following a specific workout program to meet your fitness goals, according to Forbes.com. You might want to hire a personal trainer to tailor a workout to your needs.

Step 8

Avoid becoming bored. Change your fitness activities frequently if you have the kind of personality that is quickly bored with routine. If you are a runner who feels stuck in an exercise rut, trying mixing in an indoor cycling class or some weight training a couple of days each week. If you like to multi-task, try circuit training, where you quickly move from one exercise to the next.

References

Article reviewed by JoeM Last updated on: Feb 9, 2012

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