This exercise class mimics the effect of cutting shapes on the dancefloor minus the stench of booze and regret. “It’s simply the best,” says Carly Harvey, clubbercise instructor. “The reason that participants find it so much fun is that it takes them back to the days when they were carefree dancing past midnight, the music takes you on a journey back to the ‘90s and ’00s when life was simpler. It is in the dark so participants can feel free of judgement in getting the coordination and movement right.” Put on your best lycra, whip out your glowsticks, and get ready for the buzziest hour of your life.
Turn your workouts into missions
“Your brain loves novelty,” says Deepak Shukla, Founder and CEO of Pearl Lemon Running. “Hijack your brain’s award system with missions that turn movement into novelty. This will kill the boredom barrier and secretly improve conditioning because you’re mixing intensities without overthinking.” Confused? Here are some ideas to try your hand at, curtesy of Skukla:
Run-the-red: sprint to the next red car, then walk until you see a blue one.
Song drop challenge: run easy until the beat drops, then explode for 20 seconds (I do this way too often…).
Landmark hops: pick three random objects on your route (a postbox, a lamppost, a weird tree) and change pace at each one.
Learn a skill your brain can measure
Acrobat training on a poleWestend61
Being semi-talented at anything is addictive. Maybe this is the year you’ll finally pick up a padel racket, or you actually learn how to master a handstand (that is, holding one for at least 10 seconds). “Skill-based training such as boxing combos, mobility flows, handstands or kettlebell technique, lights up the brain areas responsible for mastery and progress,” says Eivers. Even learning a cleaner deadlift hinge or mastering split-squat balance counts. When you practise something that is visibly or physically improving, even in very small increments, the cerebellum, motor cortex and basal ganglia feed back into the brain’s reward system and release dopamine.”
Make workouts about something that isn’t fitness
Treat yourself to an overpriced shake or suggest a run to your hot date (yes, there are run clubs specifically designed for this purpose). “What really drives sustainable motivation is when movement is about something bigger than us,” says Chris Bellamy, Co-founder of Yanaa. “The problem with focusing on ourselves is that the ego tires quickly.” Doing this not only builds autonomy, it helps the time pass differently. “Training for a meaningful mission gives you clear, satisfying progress that isn’t just a number on a scale.”
Dive into virtual reality
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