I can hear you now... who has time for all that? Most people do. Most people think they don't, but they do.
"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."
Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby (1826-93), British statesman.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the following on a weekly basis:
75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (jogging, running, etc) and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, shoulders and arms)
So let's split that up and see what we can get. The following is one example...
Monday
25 minute jog (Cardio)
Tuesday
55 minute Pilates Reformer Class (Resistance)
Wednesday
25 minute jog (Cardio)
Thursday
55 minute Yoga Class (Yoga)
Friday
25 minute jog (Cardio)
Saturday
55 minute Pilates Mat Class (Pilates)
Sunday
Rest
Now, you might say to yourself, I want more than just one day of rest. What if you live fairly close to your studio or gym? You could do a 10-12 minute jog to and from a class, be it Yoga, Mat, or Reformer and bam, there is 1/3 of your cardio for the week and you have an extra day off. Maybe jog (or ride your bike) to and from three classes a week and now you have 4 days off! ...and you save on gas!
Perhaps you prefer Reformer over mat, or mat over reformer - that's ok too. Pilates Reformer is double duty - core work and resistance training all in one. Ever tried Jumpboard before? Triple threat - cardio, resistance and core all in one. Many Barre workouts also incorporate cardio, core and flexibility all in one. You could even just stick to mat based classes and opt to do traditional weight training at home or at the local gym. The key is figuring out what works for you. What can you stick to? Can you create a routine that can last for you?
