Head of Fitness Justin shares his top tips to kick start a new way of thinking this new year, designed to shake up the way in which you approach exercise. It will ignite and re-boot your love of fitness and enable you to make healthy habits you’ll want to keep.

Let’s be honest with ourselves – fitness regimes are hard work! It doesn’t matter how you want to package it, but if you boil it down to the nitty-gritty, we all know how much time, effort, and dedication goes into sticking to the fitness goals we set.

This is the harsh reality of it – however, that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun with it along the way. It’s finding the ‘fun’ that is challenging. We can all remember a time when, for example, we were trying out a new class or exploring a new piece of equipment in the gym and we felt that excitement or buzz. Keeping fit and healthy can be fun, we just must be prepared to shake things up occasionally and put ourselves out there by trying new things or be willing to push ourselves out of our comfort zone.

All of this is easier said than done I hear you say – and you’re right! However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attempt to change your regular routine. Remember, this doesn’t mean going completely all out and switching things up drastically. What I’m suggesting is to try and add a class that you wouldn’t ever have dreamt of giving a go last year, or how about getting a trainer to revamp your training programme?

Something even as small as adding an exercise into your existing programme that you never thought you’d want or even like to do, (trust me, even burpees can be fun if you do them enough!). It’s all about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, and if this is something that is daunting or feels too radical, even a small change can have a big impact.

Did you know at Lime Wood, we offer an extensive range of fitness classes available to our members and hotel guests that range from body sculpt tone, aqua box, spin and strength to yoga wheel, sound healing and even power hoop? There is something for everyone.

A good place to start if you’re not a regular class goer is our Mobility classes which are on offer throughout the week. These classes are sometimes overlooked, which is a shame because they offer so much. If you’re new to classes this is a great introduction to getting your body to move more efficiently and safely, meaning you will see a dramatic improvement in all other areas of your training. If you’re a seasoned class or gym user, this class will allow you to increase the durability of your joints and muscles, allowing you to eke out those extra few reps in the gym or miles on the treadmill.

If you’ve struggled to maintain consistency in the gym or adherence to your training schedule, this is where a block of personal training sessions could help. One of the main benefits of a personal trainer is that it allows you to concentrate on ‘enjoying’ your training.

The team at Herb House has grown tremendously over the last few months and there is a trainer on hand that can be matched up to both your training goals and/or style of working out. Flossie Williams is a great addition to the team, as is Steph Heather both of whom can push your workouts to newer heights and challenge you in different ways. I am of course, always on hand to be able to help you find the right trainer so do get in touch!

Jusin’s top three tips…

• Rather than overthinking how to completely revamp your training regime this New Year, look to start with a small change and concentrate on implementing that one thing. Try that class you never even gave a second thought to
• Buddy up! Teaming up with a friend at the gym is a great way to maintain motivation and help achieve those fitness goals
• Take the plunge and have a personal trainer take you through a new workout…after all, you might find you enjoy it, and before you know it, you’ll have shaken things up and be on your way to a healthier, happier you!

If you would like to find out more about our range of fitness classes, click here! Or if you want to get in touch to discuss personal training at Herb House, email the team at fitnessteam@herbhousespa.co.uk  

By Head of Fitness at Herb House, Justin Pimm