Christine Cook
As
we watch the beginning of the decade wash away in a swath of stormy
weather it's almost impossible to remember that only weeks ago we
were suffused with optimism for a new year and a new self. Starry
eyed, more people enroll in health clubs in January than the entire
rest of the year. By February commitment has diminished, by March the
status quo has returned.
Intention
Is Everything
The
deepest, darkest days of winter are not the easiest time to embark on
a path of personal renewal, especially a path that involves exercise.
Winter, by its very nature, seems to demand introspection. It's a
perfect time for crafting resolutions, but a backdrop of grey skies
is not the best time to act on them.
We
convince ourselves that buying extra time allows for a studied focus.
We can sip tea and savor the wintery darkness; sit by the fire as we
let ideas for our new self seep into our consciousness. We can also
allow a certain smugness as we watch other peoples' resolutions crash
and burn, while we secretly nurture the potent promise of our path to
personal emergence. We'll start later.
That,
of course, is the road for the damned.
Our
resolutions encase so much and implode so easily; our hopes for
balanced self, enlivened body and new direction subsiding in a sticky
morass of obligation, self-sabotage, stress and ennui.
All
Good Resolutions Come to the Aid of Their Makers
Curiously,
when we want change in our lives, it turns out that increasing our
level of exercise is a major key to success. Exercise enhances
optimism, focus and motivation. Whether we want to clear a space for
care of self and soul, eat more mindfully, invite more joy into our
life or do more activities that uplift us emotionally, consciously
connecting to our body is one of the simplest and most direct routes
to a positive outcome. Though our understanding may be subliminal at
best, it's no wonder that exercise figures so prominently in our
resolutions.
The
Most Important Thing is to
Start.
There
are many evidence based reasons to exercise. A plethora of research
shows that - gentle or rigorous - exercise leads to a healthy
functioning whole. Brain and body are intimately, inextricably
connected. Emotions and stress affect our health. Nerve cells
interface with muscle cells, exercise increases levels of serotonin,
norepinephrine and dopamine, mind meets body in a delicate
biochemical balance fine tuned over eons to support our wellbeing.
You don't reap any of these benefits if you don't start!
Incorporating
Exercise into Life
A
lemming-like rush to the gym is not for everyone. There isn’t a
yoga studio in every neighborhood. Setting aside time for a prolonged
workout may not necessarily dovetail with life's obligations.
Fortunately, a balanced exercise program focuses on only three key
aspects - cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility – and,
if necessary, these elements can easily be broken up and interspersed
with other daily activities.
Small
bursts of exercise throughout the day can allow us to calm the
effects of stress, focus thinking, diminish muscular discomfort and
face the world with equanimity.
Marshalling
Resources
At
its most minimal, the only thing an exercise program needs for its
success is you. No special equipment necessary. Stretching can be
done in the shower, strengthening at the kitchen counter. If you are
struggling for inspiration technology can be your friend. Check out
the numerous workout DVD's available to you via your local library or
Netflix, or arrange to trade with friends. Some DVD’s break their
routines down into chunks - 10 minutes for abs, 10 minutes for upper
body etc, the better to fit into a few minutes of downtime.
Alternatively a visit to Youtube will turn up dozens of ideas. Pick
two or three exercises that suit your needs. Don't cheat - choose
exercises to challenge you, and choose some things that you don't
like doing, as well as those that you do.
If
you prefer a slightly less minimalist route consider purchasing a set
of hand weights, a skipping rope or a hula hoop to add extra
challenge. A foam roller is also highly recommended - it's a great
resource to enhance flexibility and to ease the niggling aches and
pains acquired by the desk bound, or to relieve tightness from a new
exercise program.
Guarantee
Your Success
As
you launch, be mindful. Pay attention to how you feel. You may be
uncomfortable at first, while your body adjusts at microscopic
levels. There are synapses to cross, muscle fibers to lengthen and
neural pathways to forge. The process cannot be hastened. This is a
blessing in disguise; it's permission to go easily on ourselves - to
settle in for the long haul and to find the life affirming sweet spot
where the most profound rewards of exercise lie.
Incorporate
exercise and your resolutions become a self fulfilling prophecy –
and a springboard to a satisfying life.
