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With a new year comes new opportunities, changes and resolutions.
But that doesn’t mean they should uproot your life.
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Aaron Shannon, co-owner of Regina’s New Gen Fitness and head exercise therapist, said taking baby steps is key for individuals looking to improve their health in 2026.
“You don’t have to change your whole lifestyle on day one,” he said.
For people who haven’t been to the gym in a long time, he suggests setting a realistic, but specific goal, something as simple as going once a week for 20 minutes, then expanding from there.
Shannon said it’s also important to have realistic expectations; changes won’t happen overnight.
“I find people don’t have the greatest success when they want this huge transformation or a massive goal right off the bat, because there is definitely going to be a learning curve, especially if you haven’t done anything like this before,” he said.
Being patient and compassionate with yourself is also another key tip from Shannon, acknowledging that in his 15 years of coaching, he’s “fallen off the wagon” too.
“It’s inevitable. Everyone does. So don’t beat yourself up,” he said.
“If you fell off the wagon, you were on the wagon at one point. You can do it again.”
While getting a gym membership is a goal for many, Shannon said movement looks different for everyone.
“Just find something you enjoy,” he said. “Not everyone has to be a gym goer. Not everyone has to do spin or pilates or whatever you might think of when you think of fitness. So just feel open to trying new things.”
New Gen Fitness is offering a special deal for people wanting to sign up in the new year. It also offers tiered coaching opportunities with experts like Shannon or newly graduated university students who are looking to grow their experience.
Melinda Bambalan, a trainer with Evolution Fitness, said it’s normal to feel overwhelmed when going to a gym for the first time. She said it’s important to start small, even a 20-minute stretch, just to get yourself in the door, is a perfect start. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Improving your mental health
Melinda Bambalan has been a personal trainer at Evolution Fitness for six years. She said moving your body doesn’t have to be complicated
“Start with a realistic, achievable goal, like one to two times a week,” she said.
“It doesn’t have to be heavy lifting. Come onto the treadmill, pop on your Netflix show, go for a little walk, and then go home.”
It also shouldn’t be stressful.
“It’s supposed to help your mental and physical health,” Bambalan said. “So think of it as just being consistent in helping yourself and helping your physical and mental health.”
She suggests having a gym buddy; it’s how she got started.
“I started coming with one of my friends, and now we just go to classes all the time together, or we’ll do a workout together. Even my fiancé and I will make a pact that we’re gonna go at least once a week together,” she said.
“That makes it more enjoyable and a social thing; it helps with motivation for sure.”
But Bambalan acknowledges that “motivation isn’t permanent,” and it’s normal to fall out of a routine.
She suggests booking a class or an appointment with a personal trainer to hold yourself accountable to that specific time.
While the gym can seem intimidating, Bambalan said there is something for everybody to enjoy.
Gyms across the province are ready to welcome those who have set getting physically active as their New Year’s resolution. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Gyms not slammed Jan. 1, rush comes in February
While most people might think the gyms are packed on Jan. 1 with New Year’s resolution people trying to kickstart their goals, Shannon said this isn’t always the case.
“People are assuming that on Jan. 1 gyms are going to be super busy, that people are going to be gung ho to get going, but they want to avoid that. A lot of people actually wait until February,” he said, whoch is when New Gen typically sees an uptake in gym goers.
Shannon said it’s an exciting time of year, especially for people who are new to the gym.
“It’s really cool seeing them (new gym goers) turn from anxious gym members at the start to people who end up loving it,” he said.
Bambalan notices the same thing at Evolution Fitness.
She said mid-January to March are their busiest months.
“We see a little bit of a drop off in April, but once the weather starts getting warm again — say, around June — then they start to come back again,” she said.
But a busier gym doesn’t stop their regulars.
“There are a lot of regulars here that you will see on Jan. 1. You might not see the resolutioners, but our die-hard regulars will be here right when we open,” she said.
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