When we lose focus, sometimes all we need is a little bit of motivation to get back into the swing of things. So for those times when you might lack confidence or feel overwhelmed and tired, we’ve rounded up 20 inspiring quotes to get you up and running again!
Wellbeing
“The reason I exercise is for the quality of life I enjoy.” – Kenneth H. Cooper
“When it comes to health and well-being, regular exercise is about as close to a magic potion as you can get.” – Tich Nhat Hanh
“If you don’t make time for exercise, you’ll probably have to make time for illness.” – Robin Sharma
“Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Exercise is a celebration of what your body can do. Not a punishment for what you ate.” – Women’s Health UK
“To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise.” – Gene Tunney
Mental fortitude
“Whenever I get down and catch myself with negative thoughts, I pretend I’m saying those things aloud to another person. I ask myself, would you ever say, ‘Well, it looks like you’re really blowing up, your day is over,’ to a training partner who is struggling? Of course not! You’d tell him, ‘Keep pushing and just make it through the next five minutes.’ Or maybe you’d say, ‘Eat, drink, and hang in there until the next aid station.’ Going through this exercise helps me replace negative thoughts with positive ones.” – Rebecca Rusch, world-champion adventure racer
“There is such a difference between asking yourself, ‘Oh gosh, can I do it?’ and saying ‘I’m going to do this.’ The former breeds self-doubt and almost always stifles performance. The latter sets you up to go all-in and have no regrets, even if things don’t pan out.” – Sarah Piampiano, triathlete
“If you ever lack the motivation to train, then think what happens to your mind and body when you don’t.” – Shifu Yan Lei, Master from the Shaulin Temple
Sleep
“Sleep is a part of my job; I take it very seriously.” – Brenda Martinez, Olympic middle-distance runner
“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” – Thomas Dekker
“Sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow.” – Tom Roth
“I drink a ton of water a day and try to get as much sleep as possible. Sleep is the best way to restore your health. Never skip on sleep; it’s crazy important.” – Brittany Howard
Perseverance
“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everybody on the couch.” – Elite Daily
“You can either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” – Jim Rohn
“If it doesn’t challenge you it doesn’t change you!” – Fred Devito
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle
“The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.” – Marvin Phillips
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”– Bruce Lee
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb
Some time ago we shared our pick of ten fantastic books on swimming, sports, and fitness.
But books are a bit like grains of sand — there are lots of them out there. And really there’s no end to the amount of excellent sports and fitness books to choose from.
So, to help keep your library filled with practical and inspiring reads, we thought we’d bring you 7 more books on fitness and sports (presented in no particular order, of course).
Eniola Aluko has achieved some incredible things in her life. First class honours law degree, 102 appearances for England women’s national football team, UN Women UK ambassador to name but a few.
The book deals with themes of dual nationality and identity, race and institutional prejudice, success, failure and faith, and aims to inspire confidence in a new generation of women.
This is an excellent book for anyone with an interest in (but not necessarily an understanding of) sports psychology.
The core message of the book is wrapped inside a fable, and is designed to build the reader’s self-confidence and mental resilience. Great for anyone with lofty goals!
Tim Grover has worked with some of the world’s greatest athletes, including Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant, and shares his thoughts on how to achieve mental and physical dominance.
This is a book designed to show you what it takes to reach your goals and achieve your dreams.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their mental performance. In a nutshell, it’s a mind training book with the goal of boosting your athletic potential beyond the realm of the purely physical.
Providing a window into the minds of champions, and offering science-backed tips and techniques, Jim Afremow’sbook is there to help you excel to new heights.
A book that does exactly what it says on the tin. If you’ve ever found yourself frozen on the sofa with indecision, straining over whether or not to get up and go to the gym, then consider giving this one a read.
It’s the perfect companion for anyone who, from time to time, needs a firm push in the right direction, just to keep themselves on track.
Neila Ray, who is involved with Darebee (an amazing free online workout database), has authored a very practical book, filled to the brim with great workouts that can be performed pretty much anywhere.
Another book that delivers exactly what the title promises, this is an excellent option for those who are less worried about theory and personal stories and more interested in bare bones workouts.
Being stuck inside the house all day can be a challenge. And it’s just as hard for children as it is for adults. So finding things to keep ourselves occupied, whether we’re young or old, is very important if we’re to stay happy and healthy.
So for the little ones in your life, we thought we’d share these 6 child-friendly workouts that the whole family can enjoy together.
From Yoga to Zumba, we think there’s something here to keep everyone satisfied. So get your exercise gear on and get moving!
Exercising at home isn’t always easy. And though there are countless online resources to help us keep fit inside the house, sometimes motivation can wane, and doing the same things everyday can start to feel tedious.
So in the spirit of variety and diversity, we thought we’d share 8 pieces of exercise equipment which are great for anyone looking to create a mini home gym on a budget. That way, if the day ever comes when you’d like a bit of a change from exercising in front of a screen, you have something else to go at!
Dumbbells
The classic tool for building up those arms. Dumbbells are an absolute must-have for any home gym. They’re cheap, small, convenient, and very versatile. With a couple of dumbbells lying around, you’ll never be stuck for things to do during your workouts.
Kettlebells
Much like dumbbells, kettlebells are a home-workout staple. They’re incredibly dynamic pieces of equipment, capable of working an impressive amount of muscles.
By incorporating kettlebells into workouts, you’ll stand to improve your overall strength, core power, balance, and flexibility. They’re also great for burning fat and sculpting lean muscles.
Yoga mat
For those times when the floor beckons, be it for sit-ups, leg raises, or a simple bridge. It’s always good to have some padding on-hand to protect our backs from the hard ground.
And not only are yoga mats great for traditional workouts, they’re also good for, well, yoga. Having a yoga mat in the cupboard gives you the option to take your exercise regime in a different direction every now and then. And, of course, incorporating yoga into your wellness programme is a fantastic way to keep flexible and fit!
Resistance band
Resistance bands are excellent workout multi-tools with a host of benefits and functions. You can use them for building strength, weightlifting, increasing mobility, and even as part of rehabilitation programmes.
Skipping ropes
No home gym is complete without some form of cardio equipment. And skipping ropes may just be one of the cheapest, handiest, and most effective cardio exercise tools around.
When you can’t get to the gym for your weekly HIIT class, why not try a HIIT-inspired card game instead? Designed to give you a different workout everyday, Shuffl is an exercise game based entirely on chance. Great for keeping things fresh and exciting.
Foam roller
No workout, at home or at the gym, is complete without a proper cool-down. And foam rollers are wonderful tools for helping to relieve muscle soreness and increase the range of motion in your joints.
A few weeks ago we featured 10 online home workouts to help keep you exercising during the coronavirus outbreak. This time we’re back with 5 more, the only difference being that all the classes shared below are part of an ongoing live-stream series.
So you can look forward to something new everyday whilst maintaining a sense of community. Because following along to live videos can give us a heightened sense of participation, and may help to alleviate feelings of isolation and separation.
Jesmond Pool and Gym
First and foremost are our very own virtual classes. Running daily from Monday – Saturday, you can take part in wide range of classes including Pliates, Zumba, Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, and HIIT. So if you’re a regular at Jesmond Pool and Gym and you’re missing your instructors, these are the classes for you!
Joe Wicks — The Body Coach TV
We’ve all heard of Joe Wicks. Arguably one of the most famous fitness trainers in the UK, he’s built up a huge following on his YouTube channel, The Body Coach TV, and since March he’s been uploading daily live-stream workouts every morning at 9am.
So if you’re a fan of the Body Coach, or just HIIT in general, this is definitely one to check out.
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness are offering daily “home work-ins”, live-streamed on their Facebook page. Featuring low-impact, full-body, and high-energy classes, there’s something here for everyone.
CorePower Yoga
If yoga is more your thing, then take a look at CorePower Yoga’s YouTube channel. They’re streaming multiple new classes every day, offering an impressive variety of styles. From Pranayama and meditation to Ayurveda and body sculpt. They even have classes on emotional health practises. So this one’s as much for the mind as the body.
Barry’s
Barry’s Instagram page features live-stream classes from a variety of different trainers. Classes include total body, bands, and release classes. This is a great all-round choice for anyone looking for a daily exercise session.
As you may already know, Jesmond Pool and Gym has made the difficult decision to temporarily close until the situation regarding the Coronavirus outbreak is under control. Unfortunately this means that many of our local residents will now be without the exercise facilities they’re accustomed to using on a regular basis.
But don’t worry. Though our doors may be closed, we’re still 100% committed to helping improve the health and wellbeing of our patrons. So to help you stay motivated and maintain a good wellness routine through these uncertain times, we’ve gathered up 10 great home workout routines that you can perform without any equipment or machines.
How To Adjust Training & Diet For Coronavirus + At Home Workouts (No Equipment Needed!)
20 minute FULL BODY at home workout (no equipment needed) Corona Virus Solution
30-Minute Home Workout (NO Gym NO Weights)
10 MIN Home Workout (No Equipment Bodyweight Workout)
Orangetheory At-Home Workout
“My Gym’s Closed” HOME WORKOUT ROUTINE (No Equipment Required)
The PERFECT Home Workout (Sets and Reps Included)
20 MIN FULL BODY HOME WORKOUT // No Equipment, No Noise
20 MIN FULL BODY WORKOUT // No Equipment | Pamela Reif
10 MIN BODYWEIGHT WORKOUT (NO EQUIPMENT HOME WORKOUT!)
