Find Your Gym – It’s Right Outside
Photo Credit: Christian WidellAll too often it’s easy to get trapped in the mindset that training can only happen at a a specific place. Maybe even a specific location where everything you need is there and nicely organized? This might be your local globo gym, crossfit box, YMCA or even your own garage gym.
I’d like to challenge your concept of the gym as a specific physical place to train, and ask you to shift your concept of the “gym” to be more about your mindset and intentions.
Don’t get me wrong, the big box gym does have perks – 100’s of tv’s to zone out to and distract yourself, pumping pop songs, fresh towels and spa water to refresh after a grueling elliptical marathon. Yes, I’m being a bit patronizing to make a point.
What are you going to do when you can’t go to the gym? It’s going to happen sooner or later. You’re traveling for work and the hotel gym is laughable or doesn’t exist at all. Someone in your family has the flu and you only have a 30 minute window of personal time, but the drive takes 15 minutes each way! There are endless reasons, so what’s your back-up plan?
One great way to have a gym anywhere you go is to think of the “gym” as a mindset. When it’s “gym” time, it’s time to switch to training mode.
If we begin to think less of the gym as a specific location where we train, and more as a mindset, then we open up a world of possibilities for training in any location and environment. No more stressing over the fact that you don’t have your favorite circuit trainers.
Now see the world around you as your gym. Run down the street until you get to a park. Stop at the park and do some sit-ups, push ups, and pull-ups. Run a bit further then stop at a bench and do some step-ups. Head over to that hill just across the river and run a hill sprint, walk down, then bear crawl your way up the hill again. Repeat until you feel fully satisfied and then run home.
The point is that the options are endless. It only requires a little bit of imagination and some determination to make it happen.
Start to see objects around you and the landscape as opportunities to play. Practice your athleticism while also giving your brain a boost by trying something new and fun.
Change your mindset of what the gym is, set your intentions to train with a purpose and you have a gym anywhere you are.
More great reasons to opt outside the gym:
It’s free!
Exposure to sunlight is critical for good health
It challenges your mind
No long commutes
No waiting for a machine while someone sends a text, or checks their social media
Break-up your routine, try something different
Explore a new area of town
If you would like some ideas for bodyweight training circuits that you can do anywhere, message me and I’ll send you one week’s worth of training circuits free!