We all know that exercising and moving our bodies is important, right? But sometimes I find that the word, “exercise,” induces a lot of negative feelings in my clients. It brings up endless school gym classes, fitness club memberships that were paid for and rarely used, and sometimes, even pain.
If exercise feels like a dirty word, then toss the word. Let’s just call it something else: playtime, funtime, movin-and-groovin time, or whatever strikes your fancy! I don’t care what you call it as long as you take some time to move your gorgeous body and shake what your momma gave ya!
Are you feeling it already? That sense of fun and play? Body movement is a fantastic way to bring it all back!
Before we get started, I’d like to say that if you enjoy going to the gym, then keep on doing it and having a blast. This article may help you infuse just a bit more fun into your workout.
And if you dislike going to the gym, that’s also great. That is a brilliant piece of information! You don’t like going to the gym. Fantastic! So now… what do you like to do?
You can think back to when you were a child. What games did you like to play? What movement did you enjoy? Did you like tag, or badminton, or tapdance, or dance parties in your room? Did you like swimming, or running as fast as you could, or doing yoga with your big sister? What movements gave you pleasure? What activities made you bound out of bed?
Looking back, are there any activities that you could do now? Is there a class you’d like to sign up for, a pool you’d like to jump into, or a playlist you’d like to create for your next living room dance party? There is still time to do all of these things. By reconnecting with your sense of play, you will not only move your body in a way that benefits you physically. You will also be reconnecting with your inner sense of youth and vibrancy.
And before your mind takes over, try this. Try asking your body what it would like. Take some deep breaths and ask your body, “Would you like to go for a swim? Would you like to have a dance party?” Feel the sensations in your body. If an idea gives you pleasure, then try it then and there or make plans to do so in the next few days. Leave a comment below and let us know how it went!
And don’t forget to check out my blog at More Of Me To Love!
Also, please stop by my Facebook group and become a member of the Body Love Wellness Group!
I already have more hobbies than time, so while I think your advice is good I don't think I'm going to be very good at following it in the foreseeable future (although I am giving the crappy soft DDR mat another chance, but not getting my hopes up). Fortunately I think my daily commute (with heavy bags) has me in better shape than DDR and Aikido ever did.
Hey Gina,
Thanks for acknowledging that I'm willing to continue the conversation with you, because I definitely am.
I'm not saying that changing your thinking is easy, and I think it's fantastic that you have been making changes over the last year after reading FA blogs.
My only advice is, just keep trying things even if you think it's going to be stupid/unfun/unhelpful or whatever, because you may just find you that you like it. Just keep making room in your life for trying things and seeing if you like them.
BTW it's very nice of you to make me feel welcome even though I disagree with you so much. Usually it's very hard to talk about these things because if I don't believe someone's feel-good philosophy they take it very personally and the conversation turns to how I should never have expressed an opinion, or felt anything bad, or gotten involved, and I must enjoy suffering or else I would agree with them, and I'm totally feeling bad on purpose just to be contrary. So usually I just avoid talking about it at all. But with enough exposure I do think some of the positivity seeps in, even if I reject big chunks of it and can't consistently apply even the parts i agree with to myself. (E.g. I have less body hatred after a year or so reading FA blogs, but it only really works with my bathroom mirror and not other mirrors I encounter in locations where thin people are present to compare.)
I think the internet ate my comment, so apologies for commenting again if it was actually deleted for being too negative.
Dancing in my bedroom is out for humiliation–dancing in general is too humiliating for me unless I have a dance meter to focus on not depleting (i.e. Dance Dance Revolution, which adds competition even as it requires concentration and leaves no brain power available for negative thoughts–it's good during but I am often frustrated and humiliated after). But dancing can certainly be competitive, and walking, well, can be measured by time and distance. Sure, I walked around the park, but xyz person walked all the way to xyz place and didn't even break a sweat. Society says competition is good and if I don't like it that's because I'm a loser, and if I never win, I have to agree that's a logical definition of the word "loser". My body is not interested in getting any additional exercise (walking to class, braining during class, and running errands after class do not leave me brimming with excess energy) unless I have a vacation and going places becomes optional. Then after a few days I will need to get out and go somewhere, but this is more something I have figured out intellectually than something my body feels amenable toward at the time. It doesn't like starting things, although it sometimes likes them once it gets going and after it is finished with them.
Find ways to nurture and appreciate what your body can do for you. Think of physical activity as movement rather than exercise or a means of burning calories. For more ways to nurture your body and appreciate all that it does for you visit http://www.mindfullness.com
I love this post! I agree with your point about the connotations the word “exercise” has. Many people become discouraged as soon as they hear it, but what why not call it something else? I think this is a great idea! There are so many ways to move your body. Check out “The Health Benefits of Dancing.” Go to-
http://www.innerrewards.com/topics/health-wellness/articles/ir-the-health-benefits-of-dancing-329
We all do things that, in hindsight, are an over-reaction to something that is really a very trivial event. Laughing at ourselves helps to get rid of the anger and to keep the event in perspective.
Anti Aging
Hi, Gina. Glad to have you back.
Do you really think all physical activities are competitive? Even walking around the park or dancing in your bedroom to a good song?
Competition is mainly about a head trip. It’s about proving that you’re better than someone else or better than you used to be. What I’m asking you to do is to feel into your body and see what you’re body would like to do. By moving your body and paying attention to how your body feels (and not what your mind thinks about what your body is doing) you will be able to enjoy your movements more.
How about trying that?
My problem here is that all physical activities are so competitive. Even if you’re doing it by yourself in private (which is really not an option for me anyway because I can’t get a decent Dance Dance Revolution pad), you can’t really get enthusiastic and informed about an activity without becoming aware of how your performance measures up compared to other enthusiasts. I’m never going to be good enough at any of them to not be embarrassed. That would require a lot of commitment (not fun unless you genuinely want to commit) and enduring a lot of shame (really really not fun). (Genetic propensity also helps.)