Exercising the body, I believe, is underrated. The body can tolerate (or craves) more exercise than most people accept. And, as the saying goes, "Use it or lose it"--especially the older you get.
I find the more active I am, the better I feel. There are all sorts of medical reasons for this (cardiovascular, parasympathetic, lymph stimulation), but there is an emotional component to it that I think gets overlooked, and seldom mentioned.
When you're in motion and breathing, you feel yourself being alive. You feel yourself accomplishing. You feel yourself having the adventure of life. It's just more uplifting to be active. Often, exercising is recommended to people with clinical depression just for this reason.
On the other hand, if you just don't feel like moving, and yet you HAVE to move (chasing down a 6-year old, or getting the vacuuming done before the mother-in-law arrives), it's easy to get focused on your resistance instead of the task at hand. Here is your perfect opportunity to change the exercise mindset. Feel your aliveness, enjoy the good thing you're doing for your body and BREATHE. It's not for the 6-year old, it's not for your mother-in-law--it's for you!
Of course, increasing your overall lifestyle activity level usually means changing your routine and there are the resistances that come with that. It does require some discipline, but focusing on the benefits and the good feelings that come with activity can keep you motivated.
Here are some low-impact choices you can make to your routine:
- If you have a remote phone, walk around while you talk, and then always return it to its cradle.
- Instead of hiring the kid across the street to mow the lawn, do it yourself.
- Park the car in the back of parking lots so you have to walk a ways, and then jog.
- Take the stairs not the elevator.
- Put dishes, pots, pans, cleaning supplies, etc., in locations requiring you to walk, stretch or bend to get a hold of them.
- Be aware of your breathing, then breathe in for a count of 6, breathe out for 6. Do this three times. Refreshing!
- While sitting or reclining, tense and release your legs, arms, stomach, shoulders, face, hands.
- Check into yoga classes or official nature walks. Talk to your neighbor about going with you.
- Walk the dog.
- Plant a garden and raise your own vegetables.
You get the idea. Instead of trying to find the physically easiest way to get things done, start the habit of trying to find the physically refreshing way to get things done.
And, when all else fails, at least BREATHE.
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com
I find the more active I am, the better I feel. There are all sorts of medical reasons for this (cardiovascular, parasympathetic, lymph stimulation), but there is an emotional component to it that I think gets overlooked, and seldom mentioned.
When you're in motion and breathing, you feel yourself being alive. You feel yourself accomplishing. You feel yourself having the adventure of life. It's just more uplifting to be active. Often, exercising is recommended to people with clinical depression just for this reason.
On the other hand, if you just don't feel like moving, and yet you HAVE to move (chasing down a 6-year old, or getting the vacuuming done before the mother-in-law arrives), it's easy to get focused on your resistance instead of the task at hand. Here is your perfect opportunity to change the exercise mindset. Feel your aliveness, enjoy the good thing you're doing for your body and BREATHE. It's not for the 6-year old, it's not for your mother-in-law--it's for you!
Of course, increasing your overall lifestyle activity level usually means changing your routine and there are the resistances that come with that. It does require some discipline, but focusing on the benefits and the good feelings that come with activity can keep you motivated.
Here are some low-impact choices you can make to your routine:
- If you have a remote phone, walk around while you talk, and then always return it to its cradle.
- Instead of hiring the kid across the street to mow the lawn, do it yourself.
- Park the car in the back of parking lots so you have to walk a ways, and then jog.
- Take the stairs not the elevator.
- Put dishes, pots, pans, cleaning supplies, etc., in locations requiring you to walk, stretch or bend to get a hold of them.
- Be aware of your breathing, then breathe in for a count of 6, breathe out for 6. Do this three times. Refreshing!
- While sitting or reclining, tense and release your legs, arms, stomach, shoulders, face, hands.
- Check into yoga classes or official nature walks. Talk to your neighbor about going with you.
- Walk the dog.
- Plant a garden and raise your own vegetables.
You get the idea. Instead of trying to find the physically easiest way to get things done, start the habit of trying to find the physically refreshing way to get things done.And, when all else fails, at least BREATHE.
In vibrant health,
Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com