My current exercise routine

It’s been quite a while since I gave an update on my exercise routine. The main adjustment that I’ve made over recent years, is that I alternate my focus. Since I like strength training, running, and yoga, I’ve come to the conclusion that at this season in life, it’s not possible to pursue all three elements with the same level of intensity. So, I alternate: I do a yoga program, then a strength program, and then a running program, and then I start again. I don’t fully stop the other elements, but tone them down while my focus is on one of the three elements.

Right now, my focus is on running. It looks like my knees finally feel normal again after a knee injury last October (I tore my meniscus doing a pivoting move on my leg as I tried to get chocolate chips from the cupboard while baking pancakes for breakfast…). This is what my routine looks like at the moment (during an ideal week):

• Monday: 20-30 minutes of strength in the morning, 20-30 minutes of yoga after work
• Tuesday: run from my program (30-50 minutes) in the morning
• Wednesday: 20-30 minutes of strength in the morning
• Thursday: run from my program in the morning, 20-30 minutes of yoga after work
• Friday: 20-30 minutes of strength in the morning
• Saturday: run and then 20 minutes strength
• Sunday: run and then 20 minutes strength

This may sound like a lot, but I give myself grace here if the strength or yoga doesn’t happen – the priority lies with running. My morning workouts are very early. I’m waking up at 5:20 am and am out of the door between 5:30 am and 5:40 am. My yoga after work is together with my daughter – which means distracted, but also fun (as she tries to imitate me, but also talks while I try to listen to the teacher). I’m also trying to take a 20 minute walking break (two laps around my gated community) twice a day.

At the moment, this routine work well for me. I’m finding the time for it, and I feel that I need a lot of movement if I’m sitting all day and working from home. I couldn’t do this level of intensity when my daughter was still nursing, and I’ve lost a lot of strength and endurance as compared to the time I was doing crossfit 6 days a week and going to hot yoga as well – but there are seasons in life, and right now, this schedule is what works for me.