Together apart.
As you know, an essential part of the Funtensity approach to fitness, brain health, and really life itself is partner interaction.
Well, we all know how that has turned out for workouts this year.
For a little while that kind of brought me down and I felt stuck and perhaps a bit shellshocked. I had the mental version of a “deer in the headlights” while waiting for the storm to pass. But that storm is hanging around longer than we would like. Speaking of storms…
I have been brainstorming, thinking, and adapting Funtensity to be a solo fitness experience – it has taken me longer than expected since I needed to ensure that none of the benefit was lost and that everything about the traditional Funtensity partner interaction experience was still present in a solo version.
Gone (for now, not forever) are the exercises involving direct physical contact. In its place are exercises where there are interactions with the workout leader or your partner to still keep the reactive elements alive. (High fives, hugs, and handshakes will always be a necessary part of the human experience and will make a comeback when safe so ignore the short-sightedness of those thinking otherwise.)
Perhaps more important now than they have ever been, the mental and emotional benefits of exercise are an essential part of our effort to fight off the heavy, emotional fatigue that can set in when our world gets shaken and stays that way.
The good news is, the use of reactivity, coordination, friendly competition and partner interactivity are all still possible without physical contact.
I have been brainstorming and building a list of solo Funtensity exercise variations that can work equally well either through a streaming workout or in person.
I will start sharing some of the exercises via social media (@Funtensity on all platforms), YouTube, and am in the process of figuring out how best to share a streaming solo Funtensity workout class option.
For a fun moment from a recent outdoor session that will hopefully put a little smile on your face, see this exercise inspired by the Wizard of Oz. Jump and click your heels together three times and say there’s no place like…