Consistency, accountability are key

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/03/2020 (2189 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Gyms are overrated. You might think I’m joking because I own a gym, but I’m not.

Since our city has essentially shut down to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, I’ve closed my gym, but it doesn’t mean that I’ve closed my business. As a fitness and wellness practitioner, I’ve had to change my approach. I still deliver fitness and wellness programs but in different ways.

The experience has been enlightening. The most important thing I’ve learned about fitness during these uncertain times is that it’s actually not about the gym. Here are the most important things the COVID-19 virus has taught me about fitness:

• What most people need to be fitter and healthier is a plan and some structure. This is the job of a trainer, to provide a plan and to hold our clients accountable to that plan. During stressful times, the guidance of a trusted coach becomes a beacon that cuts through all the noise. It turns out technology is a wonderful tool for planning and communicating. Although nothing beats in person coaching, a trainer with a great plan and a good communication tool can do wonders.

• Fitness gadgets are overrated. Most people join gyms to use the space and equipment but you can get fit in your basement or living room with no equipment at all. You can use just about anything you find around the house to keep fit. You can fill up laundry detergent bottles with water. You can use soup cans as light dumbbells. You can use stairs to step on, jump on or crawl on. You can use microfibre cloths as sliders. You can use rope or nylon strapping as a suspension trainer. You can do chin-ups on a door frame or a tree branch. The possibilities are endless. My personal favourite is filling up a duffel bag with heavy textbooks. You can lift the bag, squat with the bag, press the bag, throw the bag, you name it. There’s really no excuse. 

• We are nothing without consistency and accountability. Even more important than the workout itself, the equipment, or the physical location is consistency. Consistency is how we build habits, it’s how we can transform our bodies and our lives. While some people have a knack for intrinsic motivation, most of us need outside accountability in order to be consistent in our fitness routine. 

If there’s one thing I wish I knew years ago when I first started out as a trainer, it would be the importance of accountability. During times like this, when many of us are stuck at home with no gym access, a coach can still provide accountability.

Tania Tetrault Vrga is owner and head trainer at CrossFit Winnipeg. Send questions to her at www.crossfitwinnipeg.com