Not everyone digs the gym and that's ok. Whatever your objection, don’t give up on finding some form of strength training that works for you.

Strength training isn’t just about getting ripped like Samantha Briggs (who looks fab by the way), it is vital for maintaining your weight and bone density, especially as we age.  It also boosts your metabolism so you end up burning more calories throughout the day. If that isn’t motivation, I don’t know what is. Lastly, the sad truth is that if we don’t do some form of strength training, as we get older we slowly start to lose muscle mass, making more room for fat to creep in. 

So, if hefting dumbbells over and over isn’t your idea of a good time, check out three of my favorite strength training alternatives.

TRX – Training “movement not muscle” as its website says, TRX is a total body workout that’s challenging and fun.  Not only will you build muscle but also improve your mobility and flexibility, helping you develop “functional strength” – the kind that helps you in everyday activities like giving your kids a piggyback ride or carrying your groceries. The best part of TRX for me is its portability. I can workout at home or on the road – no gym required.

Yoga – Yoga is not just about stretching and laying around in “corpse” pose, and while it does depend on what form of yoga you practice, you will be challenging your muscles with this workout. Anyone who’s ever held the warrior pose for more than a minute knows what I mean! The combination of strength and flexibility make this a great one-two punch – add in cardio on alternate days and you’ve got yourself a complete workout.

CrossFit – So, yes, CrossFit happens at a gym and if you aren’t a hard-core WOD-head (WOD = workout of the day), it can seem intimidating, but don’t give up on this concept yet. Provided you find the right gym or trainer for you, this style of workout will challenge you in a new way with each workout, and because the workouts are scalable, you can modify the workouts for your skill and fitness level. Will you sweat? Yes. Will you see results? Big time.

With all these workouts, be sure you’re using correct form to reduce your risk of injury. That’s where a class or trainer comes in handy to get you started.

Sources
https://www.instagram.com/bicepslikebriggs/?hl=en 
http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/5-benefits-of-weight-training
https://www.trxtraining.com/discover/who-we-are
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/03/01/a-beginners-guide-to-crossfit/