JOIN THE CLUB
Which wellness sub-group do you belong to?
Are you a social exerciser or an early riser? Along with turmeric lattes and ultramarathons, the wellness boom has sprouted some sub-groups. Here, our definitive guide. By Remy Rippon.
THE WEEKDAY WARRIOR
If there was a mantra you live by, it’s the 80/20 rule. From Monday to Friday you’re regimented – usually it’s something high-intensity. The weekdays are for raising your heart rate. You follow up with a nourishing smoothie bowl or green juice spiked with the latest superfood (is it açai or goji berry this week?). If you’re feeling spritely, you might even leave the office in time to catch an evening reformer Pilates class. The weekends, conversely, are fair game and that means sleep-ins and little else; the only occasion you’ll raise a sweat is after 9pm on a dance floor.
THE SOCIAL TYPE
You’re a typical temptation-bundler, that is, you marry something you love with something you loathe. For you, it’s seeing friends and exercising, in that order. The only time you’ll set foot in a gym is if you know your BFF has pre-booked the same sweat sesh (you couldn’t let them down) and your bike/mat/station is side by side. Fitness for you means catch-ups: brisk walks, long bike rides, surfing or yoga classes are preferred (how does one chat with a heart rate above 65 per cent?). And even then, it’s not worth the effort unless there’s a post-workout coffee or brunch involved.
THE EARLY RISER
Exercising in the AM is as routine as brushing your teeth. You jump out of bed with gusto and feel unapologetically smug about the fact that you’ve high-fived a workout before sunrise (those late-risers don’t know what their missing out on). If you skip your morning sweat sesh, you feel offbeat all day, but not enough to ever consider exercising past 5pm. That’s because your mind and body likely switches to neutral after 4pm, which is the time you usually revert to doing emails or expenses.
THE INCIDENTAL EXERCISER
On the odd occasion, you’ll check the fitness stats on your phone and see your step count nudging 10,000 steps – and it’s only 3pm. Who needs scheduled gym classes when you’re scaling three flights of stairs to get to your front door, and that’s after you’ve walked half a block to your car? Then there’s that Wednesday evening game of touch football, a beach walk and the Saturday morning ocean swim. Chasing around the kids every other day doesn’t even feel like exercise.
THE MINDFUL MEDITATOR
You know exercise and mental clarity go hand in hand, which is why the motivation for moving isn’t a summer six-pack or toned limbs, it’s turning off your thoughts. Forget high-intensity interval training or back-breaking boot camps (how can one find peace when they’re being shouted at?), your MO is a nourishing yoga or Pilates session, because reconnecting with your body and switching off from the outside world are paramount. Sometimes you’ll skip the exercise portion altogether and reset with an hour of meditation – it’s good for the soul.
THE ADVENTURER
You’re a thrill-seeker, so holidays are served with a side of exhaustion: cross-country skiing in Switzerland, trail running in Spain or hiking in New Zealand. Endurance events like Tough Mudder get your heart racing. You’ve probably even ticked off a handful of marathons and have your sights sets on something heartier (an ultramarathon, perhaps?). You’ve made lifelong friends who also thrive on the challenge – you swap training tips, meal plans and forward them emails of an upcoming North Face sale. Despite your near-professional level of fitness, you’ll never quit your day job: exercise is your release.