If you have any exposure to the world of online fitness influencers, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the different types of fitness routines and exercises.
There are many ways to improve your strength and fitness.
You can do CrossFit, Orange Theory, F45, Hyrox, bodybuilding, HIIT, LIIT, or variations and combinations from each.
You can take up yoga, pilates, martial arts, circus acrobatics, or other disciplines.
You can play a sport.
You can use resistance bands, bodyweight, barbells, kettlebells, or dumbbells.
Which is the best way to train? What will get you most fit? Which will help you prevent injury?
Every online influencer proclaims that their way is the best.
Here’s the truth: there isn’t just one way. What’s “best” depends on your desired outcomes.
All training is specific.
If you want to improve at a particular sport or skill, you have to train that skill. Although some general strength carries over, if you want to be a better swimmer, you need to swim. If you want to get stronger in barbell lifts, you must practice barbell lifts.
The corollary to that is that if you consistently train in one discipline, you’ll get better and stronger at that one discipline — but that might come at the expense of your strength in other areas.
If you want to avoid injury, it’s not just about what you do, but how you do it. Proper technique is your best insurance — and even that isn’t foolproof.
Different seasons of life might shift your focus to different modalities, depending on your needs and your body in that stage of life.
In my experience, I’ve found that a mix of modalities keeps things interesting and keeps me from getting bored.
There’s not just one path to fitness.
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