by Sharon Feiereisen
Are you addicted to SoulCycle? Obsessed with kickboxing? Religious about running? Here’s what your workout may be saying about your personality.
Your workout, yourself
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
Your choice of exercise can definitely say a lot about your health, but can it explain you?
While it’s impossible to generalize in absolute terms about workout routines and types, says Julia Kim, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, there are often similarities in those who favor a particular pursuit. “Workouts can reflect aspects of our personality as we tend to engage in what suits our needs and desires, making it naturally rewarding,” she says. Dr. Kim also notes that it’s important to consider the context in which the exercise is done—solo or part of a team, for competition or recreation. For example, a solo recreational swimmer may be different from a Masters swim team member.
In general, however, she says that what workout routine you favor often gives compelling insight into whether your motivation come from others or from within yourself, if you’re extroverted or introverted, a risk-seeker or avoider, competitive or collaborative, spontaneous or controlled, aggressive or not-so-much, and whether you prefer rewards or simply don’t want the guilt of being out of shape.
Class enthusiasts
UBER IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK
People who choose group workouts tend to be more social—no surprise—and need help staying on track, says Dr. Kim. Everyone is looking for new ways to stay motivated for exercise, but there’s nothing like a group workout routine to get you to show up on time. Kim also believes of the group exerciser: “You are more social and extrinsically motivated (rewards, encouragement, and praise from others). You like to be more spontaneous, and less competitive and less aggressive.” Tracy Morgan, a New York City-based psychoanalyst, adds that group classes puts someone else in charge for those who like being told what to do. There is also a competitive aspect to group classes. “If you’re competitive, classes or group activities push you to another level of performance,” says Kevin Gilliland, PsyD, executive director of Innovation360 and author of Struggle Well, Live Well. “You know your level of performance, but others help to bring out the best in your abilities. You may tend to feel the energy of the group and get caught up in it or even need it.” He also notes that people who don’t interact with adults in their daily life (think elementary school teachers or people who work from home) often crave group interactions. Make sure you’re not making these group fitness class mistakes.
Soloists
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
“If you’re a solo workout person, you are getting a break from the work and social world,” says Dr. Gilliland. “It’s a way to put your mind at rest and recharge the body, or crush the body so the mind can rest. It’s a way to clear all the clutter and you know it, and people and classes won’t help you, you are trying to get away from all that.” Dr. Gilliland explains that often neurotic overachievers workout solo. “They’re efficient, scheduled on their terms for a change, and working out alone gives them a break from all the questions and directions of their typical life.”
how walkers can become runners.
Road cyclists
SOLOVIOVA LIUDMYLA/SHUTTERSTOCK
If your go-to workout routine is cycling, Dr. Kim says, odds are that you don’t mind long hours to yourself, and you have deep wells of motivation. You can accept a moderate amount of risk, and you tend to be middle of the road in terms of focus, spontaneity, competition, and aggressiveness.
Mountain bikers
KUZNETCOV_KONSTANTIN/SHUTTERSTOCK
Mountain bikers tend to be more spontaneous, and they’re definitely more tolerant of risk, says Dr. Kim. You’re probably less likely to seek social outlets, finding your motivation from within. “You are more focused, aggressive, and reward-oriented.”
swimming workouts burn major calories.
Boxers
JUAN MIGUEL RAMIREZ/SHUTTERSTOCK
Yep: Aggressiveness takes the day, here, says Dr. Kim, along with a desire for risk. People who pursue contact sports like this tend to be very competitive and focused—because the penalty for inattention is, well, pain.
things cardiologists do to take care of their heart.
Golfers
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
The social nature of golf means you better enjoy company—and golfers tend to, Dr. Kim says. There are few golfers who pursue the sport independently—usually they’re looking to partner up with someone to schedule tee-times and hit the links. But the competitive nature required to play the sport will always be present, she says.
Weight-lifters
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
People who are religious about hitting the weights are often self-driven, according to Dr. Kim. The competitive fire for the average lifter is less likely to burn brightly, she says, though a streak of assertiveness definitely plays a role in their love of the gym. Use this science-backed trick to get stronger faster.
Are you addicted to SoulCycle? Obsessed with kickboxing? Religious about running? Here’s what your workout may be saying about your personality.
Your workout, yourself
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
Your choice of exercise can definitely say a lot about your health, but can it explain you?
While it’s impossible to generalize in absolute terms about workout routines and types, says Julia Kim, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, there are often similarities in those who favor a particular pursuit. “Workouts can reflect aspects of our personality as we tend to engage in what suits our needs and desires, making it naturally rewarding,” she says. Dr. Kim also notes that it’s important to consider the context in which the exercise is done—solo or part of a team, for competition or recreation. For example, a solo recreational swimmer may be different from a Masters swim team member.
In general, however, she says that what workout routine you favor often gives compelling insight into whether your motivation come from others or from within yourself, if you’re extroverted or introverted, a risk-seeker or avoider, competitive or collaborative, spontaneous or controlled, aggressive or not-so-much, and whether you prefer rewards or simply don’t want the guilt of being out of shape.
Class enthusiasts
UBER IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK
People who choose group workouts tend to be more social—no surprise—and need help staying on track, says Dr. Kim. Everyone is looking for new ways to stay motivated for exercise, but there’s nothing like a group workout routine to get you to show up on time. Kim also believes of the group exerciser: “You are more social and extrinsically motivated (rewards, encouragement, and praise from others). You like to be more spontaneous, and less competitive and less aggressive.” Tracy Morgan, a New York City-based psychoanalyst, adds that group classes puts someone else in charge for those who like being told what to do. There is also a competitive aspect to group classes. “If you’re competitive, classes or group activities push you to another level of performance,” says Kevin Gilliland, PsyD, executive director of Innovation360 and author of Struggle Well, Live Well. “You know your level of performance, but others help to bring out the best in your abilities. You may tend to feel the energy of the group and get caught up in it or even need it.” He also notes that people who don’t interact with adults in their daily life (think elementary school teachers or people who work from home) often crave group interactions. Make sure you’re not making these group fitness class mistakes.
Soloists
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
“If you’re a solo workout person, you are getting a break from the work and social world,” says Dr. Gilliland. “It’s a way to put your mind at rest and recharge the body, or crush the body so the mind can rest. It’s a way to clear all the clutter and you know it, and people and classes won’t help you, you are trying to get away from all that.” Dr. Gilliland explains that often neurotic overachievers workout solo. “They’re efficient, scheduled on their terms for a change, and working out alone gives them a break from all the questions and directions of their typical life.”
how walkers can become runners.
Road cyclists
If your go-to workout routine is cycling, Dr. Kim says, odds are that you don’t mind long hours to yourself, and you have deep wells of motivation. You can accept a moderate amount of risk, and you tend to be middle of the road in terms of focus, spontaneity, competition, and aggressiveness.
Mountain bikers
Mountain bikers tend to be more spontaneous, and they’re definitely more tolerant of risk, says Dr. Kim. You’re probably less likely to seek social outlets, finding your motivation from within. “You are more focused, aggressive, and reward-oriented.”
swimming workouts burn major calories.
Boxers
JUAN MIGUEL RAMIREZ/SHUTTERSTOCK
Yep: Aggressiveness takes the day, here, says Dr. Kim, along with a desire for risk. People who pursue contact sports like this tend to be very competitive and focused—because the penalty for inattention is, well, pain.
things cardiologists do to take care of their heart.
Golfers
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
The social nature of golf means you better enjoy company—and golfers tend to, Dr. Kim says. There are few golfers who pursue the sport independently—usually they’re looking to partner up with someone to schedule tee-times and hit the links. But the competitive nature required to play the sport will always be present, she says.
Weight-lifters
JACOB LUND/SHUTTERSTOCK
People who are religious about hitting the weights are often self-driven, according to Dr. Kim. The competitive fire for the average lifter is less likely to burn brightly, she says, though a streak of assertiveness definitely plays a role in their love of the gym. Use this science-backed trick to get stronger faster.