TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – We are well into 2025, meaning that many are working on their resolutions. Getting into shape is a common goal, that can be a challenge for many to keep up with. But, the feeling of starting over can be a powerful motivator to keep at it.

“It’s natural for people to want to sit down, reflect over things, and improve going into this new year,” said Tayce Sell, General Manager of Crunch Fitness Topeka. “I joke that it is essentially like a psychological marker for them, that fresh start feeling is really what catapults a lot of people just to even get through the door.”

That door can be the first step in your fitness journey. The following steps come in wanting to stay and come back.

“There is a competition factor,” said Sell. “There is a camaraderie that comes with that. So you’re seeing other people driving towards a better them as well, and for a lot of people that’s a motivating factor that you can’t always get when at home and in your own space. ”

There are exercises of all shapes and forms, and it’s okay to start wherever you can.

I would start with anything: strength training, flexibility, mobility. For flexibility, and mobility that can look like yoga or pilates classes. Strength training can be maneuvers like squatting or dead bugs if you want to throw in some core for that.

Starting small can lay the foundation for larger goals down the road.

“I’m trying to get stronger,” said Darrin Plank, a gym-goer. “I’ve got a big lift in Iceland that I’m trying to get to within the next year, year and a half, to lift the Husafell stone. A couple of years ago I was in Scotland and did the Dinnie stones. I was the 150th person to ever do that.

Whatever you do, just keep in mind that it’s important to not rush yourself and that everyone else in the gym is on their own journey as well.

Don’t be intimidated by individuals lifting heavy weights. Someone’s got to start somewhere, even if it’s five pounds or no weights on the bar, we all start somewhere.

There are plenty of gyms in town to help you reach your goals. Here are a few that you can go to:

Crunch Fitness Topeka

Planet Fitness Topeka

Colaw Fitness Topeka

GreatLife Topeka

Genesis Health Club- Topeka Southwest

Genesis Health Club- Topeka North

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