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Are you the type of person who loves participating in activities but don’t necessarily love the company of others? If so, you and I are one in the same.
I love, love, love working out, going on long walks, doing yoga, following stretching videos, and pretty much anything that will keep my physically active while working on bettering my health. Recently I’ve even fallen in love with hiking, which is something that I do think ultimately, I could do on my own. I will be the first to admit that while I do enjoy doing a lot of activities by myself, there are days when I also love having company.
But for the most part I enjoy working on bettering my health with my own company.
This is mainly because I feel that there is no pressure to do well, to succeed, or to even extend my workout session out of fear of not being able to keep up with others. This is just a few of the reasons among many as to why I enjoy working out by myself, and honestly even in the comfort of my own home. I’ve been working out at home and alone for nearly a year now and I find nothing to be more liberating and more self-motivating.
Of course, there is always the option of going to the gym by yourself and working out alone, but honestly there’s just something different and more intimate about doing it in the comfort of your own home, where for the most part you don’t have to be surrounded by anyone else. Or am I the only one who feels this way? Anyways, in honor of being an introvert who loves to work out, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite workouts to do, and workouts that I’m interested in trying, in the comfort of my own environment and for the most part all by myself.
Check it out below!
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Cardio
I have a love/hate relationship with cardio.
I love it because it pushes me to my limit, it helps me improve my stamina, and it is one of the key ingredients to actually losing and maintaining a healthy weight. I’m not a big fan of it mainly because my stamina sucks and I find that it does take me a while to get in the groove of doing cardio. As much as I don’t necessarily always look forward to doing cardio, when I’m in the zone and I get that rhythm going, I actually really enjoy it a lot.
Cardio is perfect for introverts because you can literally do it anywhere. You don’t need to go to the gym, you don’t have to have a group of friends tagging along with you (unless you want to), and you most certainly don’t have to go to a studio of any sort to do it. You can do it whenever and wherever you please. There are many different forms of cardio so you can never get bored. This includes workouts such as cycling, jumping rope, running, climbing up and down stairs, dancing, and my personal favorite doing a PIIT workout.
I love PIIT28 by Blogilates because it’s so fun and challenging to do. There is a diverse set of workouts that you can complete in the comfort of your own home, and every single one of them will be completed in exactly 28 minutes. That means it’s not only a commitment to your health but it also won’t eat away at your time! If you are not familiar with what PIIT28 is, it is a Pilates Intense Interval Training cardio workout that is designed to help you get to your fittest self in only 28 minutes.
PIIT28 is super challenging but so worth the results if you are looking to lose weight, improve your stamina, or tone your body. While I personally love to do this cardio at home in my basement, PIIT28 is something that you can do outside, at a park, or even in the gym. As an introvert I can honestly say that it is by far easily my favorite way to do cardio, although because of how challenging it is I will only do it once every 2 months or so.
If you are interested in learning more about the PIIT28 program you can check it out at PIIT28.com.
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Yoga
As an introvert, yoga is another favorite activity of mines.
Yoga is the perfect workout to help you center yourself, find calm within yourself and in your surroundings, increase your awareness, and only focus on one voice at a time. The best part about yoga is the fact that while you very much can do this at home, you can also go to a yoga studio and experience the same benefits as an introvert.
The key to doing yoga is to focus on your breathing, your movements, and the tightening and loosening of your muscles as you move into different positions. This means that there is very little room for socializing because for the entire time you will be focusing on keeping yourself afloat. If you’ve never done yoga, I will admit that it can be challenging, but there are a ton of different levels you can participate in. From beginner, to intermediate, and of course advance, there are various yoga routines at all stages for you to be able to participate in.
Personally, I enjoy doing yoga at home. If this is something that you think you would be interested in here’s what I literally do. Google yoga videos and find ones that are within a good time limit for me, so 30 minutes of yoga versus an hour, and then follow along to the video for the entire time slot. That’s literally it! If you want to save yourself time from searching for a yoga video that will be best for you, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve created a 30-day workout calendar that can be used all year round. This calendar is complete with some of my favorite moves that I do almost on a daily basis, as well as my current favorite yoga workout routine video. I’ve been doing this yoga video at least once a month. Honestly while it’s not as challenging as other yoga routines I’ve taken part in, I do find it to be extremely fun to do. Let me know if you give it a try!
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Personal training
This is perhaps a go-to for most introverts, right?
Personal training encompasses having a one on one session where it’s just you and your trainer getting through a workout. While this sounds like something that most people who are serious about getting into shape, and even celebrities with strict diets and workout routines may do, I also believe that this is something that most introverts would opt-in for if they did need the company.
While I personally have never had an in-person one on one trainer, I do know what it’s like to have someone guiding you, supporting you, and encouraging you along the way through a workout. There is something about it that makes you feel good and keeps you wanting to come back for more, if your personal trainer is good anyways. Personal trainers are great because they are literally there to serve you.
Tell them what your goals are, what your problem areas may be, what it is you want to work on, and even what your overall wellness vision is, and they will create a fitness plan that is personalized to help you achieve your fitness goals. However, do keep in mind that one size does not fit all.
Finding a personal trainer that is the right fit for you, and someone you believe you can make a commitment to and they the same, can take a while. That’s the downside to being an introvert who wants to get in shape but have a trainer to guide you along the way, having to go through countless choices before you find the right one. However, once you have found the best personal trainer for you the only way left to go is up.
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Running/distance walking
Not something I am a fan of (running), but I know it works. While introverts are not the only ones who love to go on a good run as part of a workout routine, they perhaps may find the most joy in doing so. This of course is something that you can do with a friend, but it’s so much better (so I’ve heard) when you do it by yourself.
It allows you to be able to focus on your breathing and know when you’ve had enough or when you can push yourself a little bit further. It also creates a fun challenge for yourself to see if you are able to beat your current record, and if so by how much. Not to mention there is no pressure to perform at a certain level.
Distance walking is something that I love to do. Much like running this is something that you can do alone or with a friend. Distance walking is exactly as it sounds, walking a specific distance, like maybe 3 miles, as part of your workout. This can be challenging if you’re not much of a walker, but it’s a great way to work up a sweat and get some cardio in.
This is perfect for introverts because it allows you to be alone with your thoughts, to see how far you can push yourself without the pressure of having to keep up with anyone else, and it gives you that much needed alone time that all introverts crave throughout the day. However, do keep in mind that distance walking can and will take a toll on you, so it’s something that you have to train your body to get used to. Start slow and work your way up as you become more comfortable and familiar with your fitness level.
Whether you prefer running or walking, there’s something that can be taken and loved for by any introvert. All that’s left for you to do is find the rhythm within each that works best for you and just commit to it.
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Water aerobics
This is something that I have yet to try but am open to the idea of trying. Water aerobics is a type of resistance training workout that is great for strengthening your body, improving your cardiovascular health, toning your body, and burning calories. This workout is completed in the water, so like a swimming pool of some sort, and most sessions run for an hour top.
Water aerobics is more of a group activity but because it does require focus to ensure that you are doing each move correctly, there is very little socialization that takes place. Plus, much like yoga, there is an instructor who will be guiding you through the session and you will be more keen on listening to them to get through the workout, than you will be on engaging in conversations with others.
Wearing headphones at the gym
This right here is probably a no-brainer as it’s something that most people do anyways. When you go to the gym if you don’t want to be bothered or interact with anyone you usually ware headphones. Well something that I have discovered recently is that this technique does not only work at the gym but outside of it as well.
Usually when I go on walks or I’m working out at home and I don’t want to be bothered but instead just power through my workout, I put my headphones on. This is a bit more effective and seems a tad bit more normal when walking or running, but none the less it’s a great way to block out the world and just focus on yourself for the moment.
Have a buddy
As an introvert working out alone is usually the go-to but there will always be times when you want a buddy right there with you. Usually super committed introverts find it very overwhelming to have to interact with large groups, so the smaller the group of buddies, the better. While I never personally do a workout with a buddy there are times when I’ll go on a walk, go to a yoga studio, or even go to the gym (which is almost never now) and I’ll want to have someone tag along with me.
The best method to doing so is not only finding someone who you are completely comfortable with, but also someone who enjoys doing the same activity as you. For example, you don’t want to invite a friend to do an hour of Zumba at the gym with you if they don’t like doing cardio of any type. This will not only eliminate the pressure of having to find an activity that you both will enjoy doing, but it will also make inviting them to tag along a fun and exciting adventure.
At home workout videos
This right here is literally my jam and it’s honestly what I do every single day.
I love working out at home, I don’t think that’s a secret if you’ve been following this blog for a while now. The best way to approach this method is by finding an online coach or instructor of some sort who keeps their workouts diverse, challenging, but also short and sweet. For me personally the sweet spot is no more than a 30-minute workout that will allow me to focus on a specific area of my body by incorporating a variety of moves to help me achieve my desired results.
While I have my personal favorite online fitness coach, Blogialtes on YouTube, there are a tone of online fitness instructors out there. You just have to find the right fit for you. As an introvert you will find great pleasure in doing so because this allows you to be able to have some form of a connection with someone else during the workout session without the pressure to necessarily engage with them on a social level.
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Conclusion
There are without a doubt a ton of workouts that you can engage in as an introvert and actually enjoy doing. These are a just a few and some of the ones that I either personally enjoy doing, or am interested in giving a try. While working out alone is great and all don’t be afraid to invite a buddy or two along for the ride every now and then. Not only will this help you stay motivated to reach all your fitness and wellness goals, but it will also keep things fun and exciting.
Are you an introvert? If so, what are some of your favorite ways to work out?
-Xo
Kimora