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SUMMIT AREA YMCA

8 Reasons To Get To The Gym Before 8 In The Morning

8 reasons to get to the gym before 8 in the morning!

 

A Rundown of the benefits of getting in an early morning workout 

A morning workout is a great way to start the day!

Ever wake-up and tell yourself you will workout later…and then later life gets in the way?
Why wait until the end of the day, wake up and head over to the Summit Area YMCA for an early morning workout.

Did you know that getting in a morning workout can change your entire quality of life!

HERE IS HOW:

 

1. More Energy

 

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Exercise is great for boosting energy, getting your heart rate up, and reducing fatigue. But did you know an early morning workout may be able to improve your energy as much as a cup of coffee. That’s right, according to a study published in the Harvard health blog, “Even a short bout of any cardiovascular exercise wakes us up, speeds mental processes, and enhances memory storage and retrieval, regardless of our fitness or fatigue levels…They found that just 10 minutes of stair-climbing boosted self-reported levels of energy far more than a moderate dose of caffeine (50 mg).”

 

A great way to get in a quick cardio workout is with one of our amazing morning cycling classes

 

2. Improved Sleep

 

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Exercise is known to help you sleep better, but working out at night leaves you with a “Catch-22.” On the one hand you will probably sleep better but because your body was in motion close to bed-time it is harder for your body to actually fall asleep. By working out in the morning, your body will be relaxed and ready to sink into a blissful sleep at night.

 

Relax your muscles and your mind first things with a yoga class 

 

3. Better Mood

 

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Feel more optimistic, happy, and ready to take on your day after an early morning workout! When you work out your body brings in a rush of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine.. also known as “feel-good chemicals” This enables you to feel accomplished and have a more productive day.

 

Get pumped before sunrise with a LesMills class

 

4. Less Stress

 

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Did you know your body has a built in stress alarm? There are two glands in your brain that measure something called a Cortisol Level (Stress hormone). If your stress levels get to high, your brain will start to shut down certain functions such as your digestive and immune systems. But exercise can actually lower your cortisol level! By working out early in the morning you will start of your day with a lower stress level, relaxed muscles, and a calmer perspective. This will help combat stress throughout your day and the negative effects that stress can have on your body. 

 

Get in touch with your body and combat stress with a morning Mossa class 

 

5. A Quiet Gym

 

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You know what they say… the early bird gets the worm.. or their favorite workout machine. The Gym is typically the busiest between two times, before work (8 AM to 11 AM) and after work (4 PM to 7 PM), but when is the quietest time to go to the gym? First thing in the morning! Ensure you get your favorite machine, a last minute spot in a group exercise class and plenty of personal attention by beating everyone else to the gym.  

 

Nab a last minute spot in a Pilates class or just grab the elliptical before anyone else gets there 

 

6. burn more fat

 

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First thing in the morning your stomach is virtually empty and in a study done by the 2013 British Journal of Nutrition they found that ” exercising on an empty stomach can burn as much as 20 percent more fat than when a meal is eaten first.” And as an added bonus you are more likely to eat healthy throughout your day if you start your day with a workout (see below).

 

Burn fat and build muscle with an Integrated Strength class 

 

7. Better diet

 

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By placing healthy habits as the top most priority in your day and the first thing you tackle when you wake up, you will be more likely to keep up healthy habits throughout the day. In the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, researchers analyzed the brain activity of women as they looked at pictures of food and flowers. Women who’d exercised for 45 minutes in the morning were less engage and excited by the images of food than the women who skipped the workout all together. 

 

Did you know that the Summit Area YMCA has a wide variety of 45 minute morning class?

 

8. Easier to keep it up

 

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By making the first thing you do in the morning, working out, it is much easier to establish working out as a regular part of your routine. Once exercise becomes a part of your routine you will be much less likely to skip the gym. According to a research article published by the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes about two months, or 66 days, for a habit to become established. People who workout in the morning vs. people who workout out in the evening, are much more likely to prioritize working out in their routine. 

 

Make morning workouts a part of your routine with a Body Sculpt class

 

Check out our morning classes!

Class Schedules

 

Hours of operation:

 

Summit YMCA

  • Monday – Friday 5:00AM – 10:15PM
  • Saturday 6:30AM – 8:00PM
  • Sunday 7:00AM – 7:00PM

Berkeley Heights YMCA

  • Monday – Thursday 5:00AM – 10:00PM
  • Friday 5:00AM – 9:00PM
  • Saturday 7:00AM – 7:00PM
  • Sunday 7:00AM – 6:00PM

 

 

Sources: 

totalwellnesshealth.com

Habit Study

health.harvard.edu

healthline.com

food post-workout study

huffpost.com

shape.com

fat burning study

webmd.com

 


Questions? Contact:

 

Valeria Tenriero

Health & Wellness Director
SUMMIT YMCA

valeria.tenriero@thesay.org
(908)273-3330 Ext. 1137

 

 

 

Questions? Contact:

LISA MCQUILKIN
BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA

Wellness Director
CONNECT WITH ME:

lisa.mcquilkin@thesay.org

(908)464-8373 Ext. 2026

 

 

 


About the Summit Area YMCA
The Summit Area YMCA is one of the area’s leading 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Founded in 1886, the Summit Area YMCA has a history steeped in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income and background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Each year, we serve more than 10,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those with demonstrated need. 

YMCA NEWS

SUMMIT AREA YMCA

BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA | SUMMIT YMCA | THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA

In 1886, we were founded as the Young Men’s Christian Association, but today, we are The Y; an association that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. We stand for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — For a better us. We are committed to creating equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, age, disability, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive culture in which our four core values — responsibility, honesty, caring and respect — are integral to everyday operations.

Each year, as one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations, the Summit Area YMCA serves more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the New Jersey communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those in need.

Please note that the Hurst Pool at the Summit YMCA will be closed on Sunday, March 31, 2024 and will reopen on Monday, April 8, 2024 due to regularly scheduled maintenance. Group Ex Pro will reflect amended aquatics schedules.