Even if you’re not a morning person, science confirms that a pre-work exercise routine helps you start your day more effectively than a cup of coffee and with positive side effects that may last all day. FitClub can tell you how it works, but if you don’t believe the science, you’ll have to try it for yourself.  Are you ready to wake up to endorphins instead of caffeine?

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How it works.
Quality sleep necessarily requires your brain activity and your body’s metabolism to slow down.  When you wake in the morning, your body and brain gradually return to alertness and increased metabolic activity.  A morning workout can accelerate the process by increasing the blood flow to your brain.  As your heart beats harder during your morning workout, oxygen and blood sugar are delivered to your brain, increasing your body’s metabolic rate and waking you up more efficiently than caffeine.

According to research conducted at Duke University, a morning workout improves the brain’s ability to process, remember, and organize.  The effects of a morning workout can stay with you throughout the day.  Instead of a blood sugar or caffeine crash caused by your normal wake up routines, these side effects give you an advantage throughout your work day.

What exercise is right for you?
To be effective and jumpstart your day, your morning workout doesn’t have to be a killer cardio session.  FitClub has a huge variety of morning classes available that can jump start your day with the workout of your choice.

Yoga.  A morning yoga class allows you to increase your blood flow while you build concentration and muscle endurance.

A brisk cardiovascular workout.  A brisk cardiovascular effort will release the natural feel good endorphins allowing you to start your day with a positive outlook. Hit the treadmill, elliptical machine, or check out one of FitClub’s early morning cardiovascular classes to start your day sweaty and happy.

Circuit training. A fast, but challenging circuit training workout will let you maximize your efforts and minimize your time during a busy morning.  The more challenging you make your circuit training, the easier the rest of your daily tasks will feel.  Circuit training also increases your resting metabolic heart rate allowing you to burn more calories for the rest of the day.

Make it work for you.
Even if you’re not a morning person, laying out your clothes the night before, setting an intention of starting your morning with a workout, and making a plan to get out the door can allow you to excuse proof your workout.  Becoming a regular in your favorite morning exercise class might just be the wakeup call you’ve been looking for.

Do you workout in the morning?  How does it change your day?  Share your advice and inspiration in the comments for your fellow FitClub members.