My Workout Routine – How I Like to Exercise

How do you keep fit? How do you like to exercise?

I enjoy working out in various ways.

My constant go to is spending at least an hour a day in nature. It’s so wonderfully healing to be in nature. My daily spending time in nature routine is something I try to stay true to no matter what my day schedule looks like or where I am in the world. I either go for a enjoyable run or a leisurely walk.

When I’m on top of things I divide my workout into cardio, strength and flexibility and perform all three of these in endless variations. The latter two often include weight-lifting and yoga.

I love adding fun into my routines. I do different stuff all the time. I enjoy looking up all kinds of exercise routines and trying them out. One day I can come to the gym with an old VHS of Jane Fonda’s 80’s workout. I like Jane Fonda. I had her workout book as it first came out in 1981. I was 13 and deeply enjoyed reading all about her, studying each picture, admiring her beauty and following her routines. The leotards she is wearing, with a little belt at the waist, and the long leg warmers, are totally my style. I have always loved leotards and leg warmers as part of the world of dancing and ballet. I still love dressing in these. It makes me feel like a prima ballerina.

Another day I’ll try out the workout routine of a New York City Ballet ballerina. Oftentimes I just add a couple of movements that are new and interesting to me from a routine I encounter. I use these workouts to get new ideas on specific movements and then do my own sets.

Here are some workouts I appreciate.

Exercise videos by Caroline Girvan. I recently discovered her workout videos as I was looking for some weight lifting ideas. Personally, I’m not aiming for quite as defined muscles as hers, but I like her sunny energy and I like the very clear and precise way in which she shows the different movements.

I find all her workout videos on her youtube channel to be good. Especially the newer ones, since they are more professionally filmed and edited. I like to check in on her playlist from time to time to get new ideas for moves. This one works arms and shoulders. Although me personally, I keep the sound on mute when looking at the actual exercises, to keep out the music she put in there. Not my kind of music.

Workouts with Jake DuPree. This is a very gay guy and he keeps bringing a smile to my face with his wonderful comments and adorable way of being. I just get in such a great mood with him around. There are a couple of workout videos with him on youtube. I like all of them. They cover great movements. Again, I use these workouts to get new ideas for moves and then do my own sets. This one works butt and abs.

I never have a bad exercise day. Simply because I never judge myself on how I perform. I just view each session and each performance as different. I am very attentive to how my body feels. To how I feel. Does my body want to take a more gentle approach today? Or is there wonderful energy that wants to be pushed through? I love working out until I feel I have emptied myself of energy. That is such a rewarding feeling. After each session I give myself a big round of applause. I celebrate myself in all kinds of magical ways. I always make sure I feel special, pampered and nurtured.

And that life is fun.