There's been a lot of debate lately on social media about what type of exercise is "best."
Let's take a step back for a minute.
Most adults aren't even meeting the basic physical activity guidelines. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), only about 1 in 4 adults meets both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations. (The ACSM is widely regarded as a leading authority on exercise science and physical activity recommendations.)
So, what are the guidelines?
150–300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.
Muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days per week.
In other words, roughly 75% of adults aren't meeting both recommendations.
So why are we debating which exercise is "best" when so many people aren't even getting enough movement in the first place?
Pilates, walking, dancing, swimming, lifting weights, hiking, yoga... whatever gets you off your phone and moving your body is what you should be doing!
Because here's the thing: the best exercise program is the one you'll stick with.
The hardest part isn't necessarily the workout itself. It's building the habit and showing up consistently, even when life gets busy. It's making movement a regular part of your life rather than something you feel guilty about when you don't do it.
And that starts with finding something you enjoy.
You're not going to stick with an exercise program you dread. You might force yourself to do it for a few weeks because you've been told it's "good for you," but eventually, you stop. When you genuinely enjoy what you're doing, showing up becomes a whole lot easier.
I hear it time and time again:
"Pilates is the only exercise I've ever enjoyed."
"Pilates is the only workout I've ever been able to stick with."
"I actually look forward to coming to class."
I love all of that!! Because when you find movement you look forward to, you're much more likely to keep doing it. And when you keep doing it, that's when consistency starts to pay off. You begin to see the results you've been looking for, and you actually enjoy the process of getting there!
You don't have to love every single workout. You don't have to do the hardest workout, follow the latest trend, or prove anything to anyone. You just have to keep moving consistently.
Find what you love and make it such a strong habit that when you miss a day, your body and brain crave it.
