Happy “Keep Your Resolution” Season!

At the beginning of January, we were all pumped up to make lifestyle changes that didn’t work so well last year. We were fired up to feel better, look better and work out more.

The truth is most of those resolutions fade away by the end of January and the arrival of February brings old ways back with hardly a glimmer of hope for making any of those changes happen. What can you do to defend yourself against complacency?

Start by thinking about being healthier in a different way. Think about how exercise affects your life beyond physical appearance and the numbers on a scale. How about how our brain is affected?

The most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today is exercise, says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Take a few minutes to watch her TED talk and learn the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory — and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. You’ll see how a positive mental attitude, a general feeling of well-being and mental clarity are huge benefits of exercise.

By moving beyond the physical reasons to exercise and focusing on the mental aspects, you will improve your whole body, your relationships and get to the gym with more motivation!

If you’re visiting Southwest Michigan and are wanting to keep your New Year’s resolution in check, Maddog 5/1: Revolutionary Fitness offers 30 barre, cardio, strength, yoga, and cycling fitness classes. Maddog 5/1 is great for visitors to the area because you can pay per class with no membership fee. You can also schedule classes online in advance to help you plan your trip.

We look forward to exercising with you soon!

Marydawn Taggart is the owner and founder of Maddog 5/1: Revolutionary Fitness, 715 Broad Street, St. Joseph, Michigan.