January is here, gyms have reopened, and your new fancy trainers are itching to be used!

The start of the new year sparks our desire to get organised and overhaul our existing routines. While there’s nothing wrong with fine-tuning, this time of year can be tricky to navigate without the added pressure of a new fitness practice, in a new fitness environment.

To gym or not to gym

Perhaps you’re someone who’s never ventured to the gym before, and the idea of stepping into one is a little daunting. You might struggle to pay the membership fees, or not have the means of transport to get to one.

The good news is that exercise doesn’t have to only take place in a gym. It can be a gentle walk with warm tea and a friend beside you. It can be your own private dance party as you whip the hoover round your home (I recommend listening to Chappell Roan for this).

Being more active doesn’t have to cost you anything. There are heaps of free workouts on YouTube that you can do at home. I adore doing pregnancy Pilates in my living room, ideally when my lovely puppy is asleep otherwise it turns into a bit of a wrestle.

There is a way to move your body more mindfully, and it’s called intuitive exercise. Intuitive exercise focuses on not changing your body but seeing what your body can do.

You can implement intuitive exercise into your routine by simply honouring what you feel like doing exercise-wise, rather than what you feel you should be doing.

All exercise is created equal

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking exercise has to look a certain way.

A lot of the time, the fitness content we see on social media takes place in a gym environment with various equipment and weights used.

Now I like a weight session as much as the next person, but only doing weights is like only having marmite on toast for breakfast. It gets boring!

Variety is the spice of life. Keep exercise fun by alternating activities. You could head to a new class with a friend, join your local running group, or local health walks. By keeping things fresh, you’re more like to enjoy it and carry on exercising long-term.

Remember, exercise doesn’t have to change how your body looks to be beneficial and worthwhile.

By exercising regularly, with an activity or activities you enjoy, you can improve your:

  • balance
  • stamina
  • strength

Exercise can also improve mental health by releasing endorphins, reducing loneliness, and improving sleep.

There are local resources and information available on starting healthy habits.

How to get moving, without a Gym

As a qualified personal trainer, I am going to say something that I want to shout from every mountain top:

You do not need a gym membership to get your body moving.

Sure, it’s nice to have, especially when it’s raining or you’re tight on space. But, I can assure you that you can still reap the benefits of exercise without setting foot in a gym.

What do walking and energetic cleaning have in common? They both count as exercise.

Set aside time in your day — it could be as little as ten minutes — for a brisk walk, a home workout, or following along to an exercise tutorial. The great thing about doing it at home is that you can listen to whatever music or podcast you like, result!

If you’re after equipment, but would ideally like to keep costs low, you might already have some lying around your home…

A loaded rucksack with books makes for a great homemade weight. Unsuspecting children and pets work too, but they’re a little more vocal.

You can also use bags of flour, water bottles and any jackets as homemade gym equipment!

Where will 2025 take your fitness journey?

This year, let exercise be something you enjoy. Something you look forward to and make time for.

Experiment with movement, classes, running or walking: find something you like and factor it into your daily and weekly routine.

Exercise is not something that can only be done on your own, in a gym, it’s something you can do with loved ones, children, babies and pets – and it doesn’t have to cost you any money.

Let us know some of your favourite ways to exercise, and what you’re excited to try workout-wise this year!