Rewild your fitness routine

We’re animals. However, due to the modern world and technology, we can end up supressing these natural tendencies and with that, comes a decrease in movement. Here, we share our favourite ways to give your fitness routine a spring clean and get back to your roots.

Express yourself through yoga

To embody something is to give life or physical form to something that can’t be seen. Yoga is a great way to embody our emotions through movement and expression. If you’ve been having a difficult day, and you step onto your yoga mat feeling a little bit more stressed than usual, there might be a fire energy which you need to release- therefore it can be beneficial to incorporate more powerful movements and, depending on where you are in your practice, embellish certain postures such as making your chaturanga more challenging by adding in an extra push up. We can also tap into our sense of freedom and playfulness by embodying our emotions in an animal form. Consider how this will look: are you feeling sneaky like a snake, playful like a monkey, or graceful like a swan? Think about how these animals move and try to do the same! You might feel a bit silly at first, but if you let yourself go and have fun with it, you might discover that this sense of movement and expression can be incredibly liberating.

More movement

We aren’t designed to be sedentary all day long, (our ancestors were constantly moving) so wherever possible try to incorporate as much movement into your daily routine as possible. If you work at a desk, make sure you stand up and do some gentle stretches or go for a short walk every 30 minutes. Take some time out of your day to go for a walk in nature- the fresh air and green surroundings may boost your mood, improving your overall fitness and promoting mental wellbeing.

Outdoor exercise

If weather-permitting you are able to take your exercise outdoors, this can be hugely beneficial for your mental wellbeing. This outdoor exercise doesn’t always need to be intense, and you could even do some light gardening work to feel the benefits. Why not take the children, or grandchildren, out for a day of strawberry or pumpkin picking (depending on the season!) If you’re a runner, try switching the treadmill for a run outdoors to soak up some vitamin D and get some fresh air.

Rewild at Ragdale

From a game of tennis or an invigorating bike ride, to games of croquet, Pitch ‘N’ Putt, and glorious countryside walking routes, Ragdale has a vast array of outdoor exercise facilities which can improve your overall wellbeing and enhance your stay. Plus, stay tuned for the launch of our new Heart & Soul Fitness studios, which will provide the perfect environment to truly honour the way you’re feeling, by giving you the freedom to choose an exercise style which will suit your emotional and physical needs; whether this is a heart-pumping cardio class in our Heart studio, or a gentle yoga class in the Soul studio, there will be something for everyone.