Honor Your Body with Exercise

Our bodies need to move! If we don’t challenge our bodies physically, they stagnate.  They adapt to a familiar routine and reach a fitness plateau. As their caretakers, we need to encourage our bodies to reach their true potential. We can do this by routinely challenging our bodies to move beyond their comfort zone.

For some people, the word exercise implies grueling, hard work. It doesn’t have to be this way! If you change your mind-set, you’ll discover the joy, (yes joy!), associated with simply moving your body.

Your body is your ultimate life partner. It needs you to keep physically challenging it so it functions efficiently and is the best partner it can be for you. In the same way a child feels secure when she knows her parents  are sensitive to her needs, your body needs to know you will honor its needs for proper nutrition, rest, and movement so it feels secure with you, too.

Moving your body is a sign of care and concern. Allow it to flourish through physical activity to keep it in good condition. It then returns that favor by efficiently performing everyday tasks for you like picking up a child, easily carrying groceries, or simply walking effortlessly,

Talk to your body as if it hears you because on a meta-physical level, it does. Support your body during physical activity with encouraging words. Let it know you believe in its strength. For example, refrain from saying how “hard” jogging feels or that you “hate” walking on the treadmill. A negative attitude weakens you. Simply say to your body, “You can do this” as you walk an extra ten minutes. Doing so with earnest intent helps you feel energized and more connected with your body.

Your body needs movement not only for physical fitness reasons, but also to encourage a harmonious connection between your mind, body and spirit. This happens because challenging your body physically develops determination, patience and inner strength.

Your body is a wondrous gift. When you keep your body fit, you honor the sacredness of that gift.

Here are some fitness suggestions:

During Daily Routines:

• Park your car at the end of a parking lot or street so you have further to walk.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Quicken your pace for a few minutes as you walk along the street.
• Before shopping, walk the mall for the first ten minutes.
• If you walk a dog, jog for a few minutes.
• When possible, carry your filled shopping bags to your car instead of putting them in a carriage.

Weekly:

• Plan a walk in a park or nature trail.
• Hike in the woods.
• Ride a bike.
• Go dancing at a dinner/dance club.
• Take a dance class like contra dancing or ballroom dance.
• Try an exercise class like zumba or nia.
• Mow your lawn with a push mower.
• Jump rope.
• Take a yoga or Pilates class.

As a Special Goal

• Plan to walk, or run in an easy road race.
• If you already run or walk regularly, aim for a 5K or 10K road race.
• Or, try a triathlon or bike-a-thon.
• Hike a more challenging mountain trail.
• Join a running, hiking or biking club.
• Take classes to either learn, or improve, a skill, e.g. swimming, racquetball, tennis, etc.
• Take dance lessons, e.g. jazz, ballroom, ballet, etc.
• If you already exercise, hire a personal trainer to improve your routine.

(Of course, before starting any exercise or movement challenge, be sure to speak with your doctor!)

Discover the joy of movement and give your body what it needs to thrive. Releasing weight becomes easier as you not only burn calories, but as you partner with your body to reach its true potential.

What will you do today, this month, or this year to challenge your body?