Change it up

D2: The Mighty Ducks was one of my favorite movies growing up.  I've seen it numerous times and can still vividly recall whole scenes of the movie, even though I haven't seen it in years.  I have never seen the first or third movies. Just the second.

My favorite part of the movie is when the Ducks get schooled in a pickup game in LA, where they meet Russ and his knuckle puck.  "Whoop! There It Is" by Tag Team plays during the video montage of the game (Megan Trivia: I can sing that whole song).  Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez is there as well. (Wrong movie?)

Anyway, there's a scene in the movie where Coach Bombay is being a whiny baby and doesn't show up to coach the team in a game.  He's off skating around on his own on his bum knee.  In order for the team to play and not forfeit the game, they need a coach on the bench.  Apparently, they have no assistant coaches or trainers or parents or anyone that knows even a little bit about hockey hanging around to step into the position.  

Instead, they have to convince their tutor, Ms. McKay (played by Detective Eames herself, Kathryn Erbe), to coach the game.  Even though she's been hanging around these kids for months at this point, she apparently hasn't picked up any hockey knowledge. She agrees to act as coach for the game so that they don't have to forfeit, but the players will essentially have to coach themselves.

At one point in the game, Ms. McKay notices that the players on the ice are looking tired.  But she's not sure how to get them to come back to the bench for a rest while other players take their spot.  (Although, if they were really coahcing themselves, one of the other players on the bench probably should have picked up on this and told her what to do.) 

Never fear, Pacey Witter (errr, Charlie Conway) let's her in on a little secret.  She just needs to yell "change it up."

Thank you, Charlie, for this valuable lesson.

Change it up is a term that we should all learn to love.  In addition to apparently switching out the skaters on a hockey team, it is essential for living a balanced, happy, healthy life.

I'm reminded of this all the time. 

I've been taking a yoga class on a regular basis the last few months.  It's at the same times each week, with the same teacher.  And while no two classes are exactly the same, they're still very much in the style of the teacher.  Which is not a bad thing, at all.

But, I had unknowling become very accustomed to it.  So when we had a substitute for class last week, I spent the first half actively hating it.  For no reason other than it was different than what I was used to. 

We didn't start and end in a seated position.  We didn't do the same vinyasa that we normally do.  We didn't have any background music, or the same melodic rhythm of our teacher's voice.  I was bummed about this.

Until I realized that I was enjoying class.  Enjoying the new flows and the positions that we didn't normally try.  Enjoying the change of pace and the fact that it took more focus to follow along with a new teacher.

I have to constantly remind myself to change it up, or else I get bored (this is probably why I hated training for a half marathon - too much sameness, not enough variety).  Usually, this means not doing the same workout  twice in the same month.  Trying new combinations and new routines and new classes continually.

Sometimes I add hills to a walk.  Sometimes I do interval workouts.  Sometimes I pop in a workout DVD or find a new workout video on YouTube. 

But I always seem to forget that I should change it up even further.  Change up the weight that I use for, say, shoulder presses.  Or the number of reps that I do for lunges.  Or the pace that I do squats.  Or the intensity that I do cardio at.  Or, heck, even the length of my workouts overall.

Changing things up keeps me from getting bored with my workouts.  Which keeps me from getting bored with exercising in general. But, it also keeps me from getting stagnant.  Keeps my body guessing and keeps it ready for anything.  Most importantly, it keeps me happy and healthy.  And it keeps me on my toes.

What ways do you change up your workouts to keep them fun and interesting?