A woman who gave up her carefully crafted workout routine was surprised to see herself become fitter than ever as a result.
Cassie Shortsleeve, a writer, recently relocated to Nantucket from Boston, Massachusetts, after her fiance got a job there for the summer, as she explained in an essay published by Shape earlier this month.
As a fitness devotee, Cassie had developed a foolproof fitness regimen, going from spin classes to her favorite yoga studio while including runs with her preferred exercise partners and walks around her neighborhood.
Changes: Cassie Shortsleeve, a writer, had to rethink her workout routine after relocating to Nantucket from Boston, Massachusetts with her fiance (left) for the summer
Leaving her well-established schedule to head to Nantucket wasn’t easy at first.
‘As many people who work from home can likely relate to, both my routine and the people in it are hugely important to me, particularly as someone who’s focused on health and fitness,’ Cassie wrote.
She recalled having her favorite spin studio right around the corner in Boston—a practical feature she didn’t have once settled into her new digs.
The Boston resident also had to say goodbye to her running partner and usual running path even as she was training for a half-marathon.
Although she could have easily found other workout studios and places to run in Nantucket, Cassie explained that as an introvert, she is ‘not exactly the first person to try something new’.
But she was also used to relying on exercise to manage stress, and as such, resolved to branch out.
Habits: As a fitness devotee, Cassie had developed a foolproof fitness regimen, going from spin classes to her favorite yoga studio while including runs with her exercise partners
New routine: In Nantucket, Cassie traded studio classes for bike rides around her new neighborhood, and was surprised by how much she enjoyed it
Once in Nantucket, she was surprised to see how much she ended up relying on her bike, not just to get a workout in, but to explore her new surroundings.
‘I’m not a biker. While I’ll always spin indoors, I’d much prefer a jog or a walk if I’m outside,’ she wrote.
‘But on one of my first days on the island, I biked 6 miles without even trying to.’
Even though she was more accustomed to indoor spin classes, Cassie ended up loving the feeling of the wind on her face, and became more comfortable biking outside.
She realized her quads were working during the bike sessions, and recognized that this new kind of workout was working for her.
‘Soon, I was logging mile after mile, sometimes over 10 a day. It wasn’t such a drag, either. In fact, I started working the rides into my day by choice,’ she added.
In addition, instead of relying on her favorite classes, Cassie took matter into her own hands and started working out with resistance bands and weights at home. She also tried interval sessions and bodyweight exercises for added variety, and found another yoga studio she could visit .
Flexible: In addition, instead of relying on her favorite classes, Cassie took matter into her own hands and started working out with resistance bands and weights at home
Reflecting: ‘Eventually, I stopped worrying about whether or not I had done a “true” workout for the day,’ Cassie wrote in an essay recounting her experience
Being forced out of her typical routine changed her outlook on exercise, as well as the way she assessed her sweat sessions.
‘Eventually, I stopped worrying about whether or not I had done a “true” workout for the day,’ she wrote.
Cassie, who has also come to enjoy new running routes that provide her with a ‘nature fix’, has learned how important it is not to get too attached to the same fitness routine.
‘Working in the health industry, I know the power of variety when it comes to fitness; of movement throughout the day when it comes to general well-being; of mindfulness when it comes to staying sane,’ she wrote, adding that she addresses these topics every day in her line of work.
‘But I think I’m also guilty, to some extent, of falling back on a routine, of going through the motions, of crossing off fitness just to cross it off (or using it as a tool to beat a stressful day).’
Moving to Nantucket for the summer, she added, has helped her realize that health and fitness exist ‘outside of the studio walls’ and can be practiced in many different settings.