There is this trend I keep seeing pop up on social media in the landscape of fitness: the Slow Girl Workout Era. This is said to be slow, deliberate movements and deep connection with our bodies.
This shift isn’t just happening in gyms and yoga studios, it’s a cultural shift reflecting our collective want for deeper, more meaningful interactions with our health; not just physical but mental, emotional, and spiritual health too. Slow workouts can incorporate elements of yoga, Pilates, barre and controlled strength training with heavy weights, focusing on alignment, precision, and the quality of movement rather than just the quantity.
Doing cardio on end has moved aside for walks, jogs, hiking, tennis, pickle ball, and a blast from the past roller blading.
Celebrities and influencers are swapping their sprint sessions for slow flows, sharing their journeys with mindful fitness on social media. This visibility has played a crucial role in popularizing the slow workout movement, making it more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.
Benefits of Slowing Down:
The benefits of slow workouts extend far beyond physical fitness. They include:
– Enhanced Mental Clarity: Slowing down helps clear the mental clutter, allowing for better focus and reduced stress. Working about doing high intensity cardio workouts has been known to spike cortisol levels.
– Improved Physical Alignment: Focusing on form and technique improves posture and reduces the risk of injury.
– Accessibility: These workouts are less intimidating and more inclusive, appealing to a wide range of abilities and body types.
1. Start with Breathwork: Begin each workout session by focusing on your breathing. This sets the tone for mindfulness throughout your routine.
2. Choose Quality Over Quantity: Focus on performing each movement with precision and control, rather than rushing through your reps.
3. Mix It Up: Incorporate a variety of slow workouts into your routine. Try a Pilates class one day, a yoga flow the next, weight training and a walk one day, maybe barre and roller blading the next, and maybe even get outside in the pool and do a water workout!
The Slow Girl Workout Era isn’t just a passing trend, it’s a sustainable, holistic approach to fitness that celebrates taking the time to really connect with and listen to our bodies.
Ready to slow down and tune in? Start today by choosing one slow workout to try this week.
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
