Why I Stopped Doing High-Intensity Workouts—and What I Do Instead
In my early thirties, my fitness routine looked a lot like what the industry told me it should be: high-intensity, sweat-soaked, go-hard-or-go-home style workouts. Think bootcamps, HIIT classes, burpees until I couldn’t feel my face. The message was always the same—if you’re not sore the next day, did it even count?
I bought into it. For years.
I pushed myself through tough workouts that left me drained, not empowered. I felt like I was constantly chasing an ideal that somehow always felt just out of reach. My body felt tired, my motivation was inconsistent, and exercise started to feel like another thing I had to get through—not something I looked forward to.
When I Realized Something Needed to Change
Then came my mid-thirties. And with it, a shift. Physically, I began to feel the effects of all that intensity. Mentally, I started questioning the narrative around fitness. Why was movement supposed to feel like punishment? Why was "harder" always equated with "better"? And most importantly, why wasn’t I enjoying any of it?
It was around this time that I made the decision that changed everything: I gave myself full permission to ease off the intensity.
Instead of chasing after brutal workouts, I shifted toward something that felt radically different—gentle strength. I started focusing on Pilates, incorporating resistance bands, light weights, and props like the ball and foam roller. I added in daily walking, which gave me not just movement, but clarity, fresh air, and time to reset.
And here’s the wild part: I didn’t get weaker. I didn’t lose progress. I actually started feeling stronger, more connected to my body, and more consistent than ever before.
I Don’t Exercise for Vanity—But Here’s What Happened Anyway
Now, I want to be clear: I don’t believe in exercising for vanity. But I also won’t pretend the physical changes didn’t happen—because they did.
When I eased off the intensity and started moving in a way that supported my body, things shifted. My body composition changed—I lost weight, my digestion improved, and the constant puffiness I used to feel started to melt away. I went from a more square, athletic shape to developing more of an hourglass figure.
Even more surprising? I grew over an inch in height. Years of poor posture and compressed alignment had quite literally been weighing me down—and this slower, more intentional form of movement gave me space to stand taller.
These results weren’t from pushing harder. They were the byproduct of working with my body instead of against it.
I still lift weights once a week because I love feeling capable and resilient. But now, it’s about complementing my Pilates practice, not pushing myself past exhaustion. I do it because it supports how I want to feel—not because I’m chasing someone else’s idea of what fitness should look like.
Pilates taught me that movement can be nourishing, not depleting. It reminded me that building strength doesn’t have to come at the cost of enjoyment. And as a certified Pilates instructor now, it’s something I share with every woman who steps onto the mat with me.
Why Gentle Workouts Work (Yes, Really)
What surprised me most was how much I started to look forward to my workouts. When exercise stopped feeling like a test I had to pass, I found my rhythm. It wasn’t about burning a thousand calories or sweating buckets. It was about showing up, moving with intention, and leaving the mat feeling better than when I started.
Here’s the truth I wish I had learned earlier: consistency isn’t built through punishment. It’s built through enjoyment. Through movement that feels good, fits into your life, and leaves you feeling more like yourself—not less.
Now in my 40s, I can confidently say that easing off the intensity was the best decision I made for my body and my mindset. It didn’t mean giving up on goals—it meant redefining them. Instead of chasing exhaustion, I’m chasing sustainability. Energy. Joy. Ease.
That shift didn’t just change my workouts. It changed my relationship with my body. I stopped seeing fitness as something I had to conquer and started seeing it as something that could support me.
And if you’ve been feeling the same—burnt out, disconnected, or dreading your workouts—I want you to know this: it doesn’t have to be that way. You’re allowed to choose a different path. You’re allowed to find strength in softness. You’re allowed to enjoy your workouts. You’re allowed to move in a way that fits your life right now.
Easing Off the Intensity: What I Do Now
For me, that looks like a regular Pilates routine that blends strength, mobility, balance, and breath. It’s walking every day to clear my head and care for my mental health. It’s one weekly strength session to maintain the muscle I’ve worked hard to build. And it’s moving because it feels good, not because I’m trying to punish myself for what I ate or how I look.
So no, I don’t miss the HIIT classes or the feeling of dragging myself to the gym out of guilt. I’ve found a way to move that feels aligned with my life, my energy, and my values.
And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
If you’re curious about what this kind of gentle, sustainable strength can look like for you—I’d love to welcome you inside my online Pilates studio. It’s not about perfection, and it’s definitely not about punishment. It’s about finding what works for you and showing up, one feel-good class at a time.
You deserve movement that meets you where you are. And if no one’s told you lately—yes, it can feel that good.