One of the strategies that I have found to be invaluable is the power created by training with a buddy or a group. There are lots of reasons for this but some of the most profound are:   built in accountability this strategy can create , shared goals, support and an added element of fun. Further, if your highly competitive having another person or a team to push you can make a huge difference in performance. This idea can also be used as a way to connect with friends and family. This is a creative another way to share time together. Sometimes our schedules are so busy or sporadic that making time for a buddy or training with a group is a challenge. I have to admit that for the most part I train alone only because it is what makes sense for me time-wise. That said about once I week I do get together with someone else and am reminded that my fitness routine is more balanced when I share nature and an activity with someone else. I realize that for some of use our workout times are opportunities to be alone which can be rejuvenating and sometimes the fitness activity we are engaged in involves a group of people that you may or may not interact with. These times are valuable so the trick is to gage balance , benefits and outcomes when it comes to training alone, with a group but not engaged or with a buddy/group in an interactive capacity. My suggestion is to explore all the above and see what works as well as being open to different variations based on your available time, emotional state and fitness/health goals. I can recall that when I was training at a very high level it was necessary to train with others part of the time in order to push myself and to get an accurate picture of my progress or lack there of.  Further, because some of us really do use our workout time to regroup it is important to make sure we build in enough alone time to accomplish this.

In support of your program and what keeps you inspired, engaged and on track.

Namaste,

Laurie