Sunday, Jeremy and I spent the entire day at Governors Island. I don’t know what it is about that island, but I swear it’s the most relaxing place EVER and everyone there is in the best mood.
We hopped on the first ferry of the day at 10AM, which we also found out was free since it was the first ride of the day, and didn’t head back to Manhattan until 5PM. We spent the day walking around, exploring, lying in hammocks while reading, sitting in Adirondack Chairs while reading, eating lunch from one of the food trucks, and we finished off our day renting bikes and cycling around the island.
Even though I didn’t go to the gym or take a fitness class yesterday, Jeremy and I still managed to walk over 10 miles… which doesn’t even count the hour or so we cycled around as well. It wasn’t a “formal” workout, but it was still an exhausting and active day in the sun
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I’ve been thinking a lot my relationship to fitness and how it’s changed, especially recently.
When I first started really getting into fitness, I was ravenous. I had to try every cool, trendy work out. I was willing to travel uptown and downtown and far east and far west to quench this burning desire to go to the best workouts I could. I stalked my favorite fitness instructors around Manhattan. I also worked at ClassPass which meant I worked out for free for an entire year of my life at trendy boutique studios all over Manhattan. You bet I took full advantage of that free membership. I still remember the legit adrenaline rush I felt after I booked my first class for free on ClassPass. I felt like my life had been forever changed.
Sometime early this summer I found I just couldn’t do it anymore. The thought of waking up early to take a subway or taxi to a workout while it was still dark out felt like such struggle. I started focusing on workouts that were closer to home and only required a short walk. I started working from home and therefore started hitting up 8:30AM classes instead of the 6:30AM classes I used to be a regular in.
I’ve also stopped doing workouts I hate. Or even workouts I’m not sure I’ll love. I’ve lost some of my appetitive for fitness adventure and have been sticking to my tried and true favorites. Instead of getting all crazed about whether or not I’m taking the hardest workout, I’m focusing on the workouts I love. Sometimes that means opting for a barre class instead of some seriously intense HIIT class. And that’s okay.
I tell you this as a simple reminder that working out shouldn’t be so hard. Fitness shouldn’t be stressful. Really, it should do the opposite and leave you feeling less stressed.
I’m definitely the same way in the sense that when I first got into fitness I wanted to try everything new, hard, and right now! I think as you do it for longer and it becomes more of a lifestyle and just daily habit… you also realize that isn’t overly sustainable and a little exhausting. As much as I still formally workout on a near daily basis, I feel my best when I have those fun and active days outside!
PS. ClassPass free for a year. That is amazing!
I totally agree, I think we’ve both fallen into a groove with fitness which is GREAT, and I think that’s why I no longer want to try everything– I’ve found what works for me.
This is such a great post, I feel the same way about fitness. I now just do it because I enjoy it, not because I’m obsessed with it! Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much!