Consistency is Key

Calling all Cardio Queens!!!  

Hey ladies, we are all guilty of this one.  Spending endless hours on the eliptical or walking miles and miles in the hopes of burning off that baby weight or trimming down our thighs.  Cardio is certainly a great way to burn fat and excess calories but that alone will never get us to our goals of looking lean and feeling strong.  Arguably, the most important aspects of designing a fitness program for woman of all ages is strength training.  Strength training involves working your muscles to failure in an effort to strengthen them and ultimately, change their shape, giving your body a toned appearance.  In order to get the maximum benefits of strength training, it must be performed a minimum of twice a week consistently and, of course, more is always better! 

Barre and Reformer-based Pilates are ideal ways to strength train a woman’s body.  A total body workout that encourages ideal postural alignment, core engagement and a very specific recruitment of muscle fibers, these techniques will reshape your muscles more effectively than any other program out there.

The main key to making your strength training program work for you, however, is consistency.  Done randomly or changing up your routine too often may be counteractive to your goal. According to the NBC news article linked below,

"Getting fitter, faster, stronger all comes down to one key element: progressive overload. That means continuously challenging your body to do more than it could previously."

The article goes on to point out the pit-falls of mixing up your workout routine too much. 

"Going to a variety of different studios or classes does not allow you to gain any momentum or real training effect that comes with building on an actual, progressive training program. If you’re in it strictly to have fun or as a form of socializing — that’s great, have a ball. If you’re looking to maximize your fitness, however, you can fall into the trap of ‘mixing it up’ at the expense of actually making progress, getting better and reaching your goals.”

Lastly, this article discusses the benefits of consistency in small studio settings, such as Towne Barre.

"Make the most of boutique fitness by signing up for studios with smaller class sizes, so you get more attention. Also, ask questions post-workout about how to properly execute exercises, especially if something was confusing during class. Practicing what you learn in the studio outside of its walls will also help you move better, as will listening to verbal cues and paying attention to body alignment. (Translation: Don’t just go through the motions without considering form.)"

So what does this mean for you and Towne Barre? It means making us a part of your regular routine.  Swapping out a day or two of your treadmill and committing yourself to 2-3 days a week of barre and/or Pilates, will undoubtedly get you to your goals faster and more efficiently. Once you make this change to your program and commitment to yourself, we promise that you will never look back.  Your body will change, your mindset will change and you will feel so good about your decision to come get cozy at the barre....

Sunday night is the perfect time to plan your week. Take a look at our schedule and choose 2-3 classes that work for you. Sign up now and commit yourself to coming- we promise to make you shake, quake, and smile as you inch closer and closer to your goals!


Tammy and Anne Marie

http:// https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/switching-your-workouts-hindering-your-progress-ncna821466