Learning to embrace regular exercise

I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of going to the gym.  I ran on the track and cross country teams throughout junior high and high school and spent plenty of time in my life working out on weight machines, running on treadmills, riding the stationary bike, making endless ovals on the outdoor track and even trying the buns/abs/etc of steel workout tapes as a way of staying in shape.  Unfortunately, in the years since I left school, I’ve found that I have a much harder time maintaining my exercise program when I don’t have a coach shouting at me to do three more laps or two more sets of crunches. 

I began to wonder if something was wrong with me.  Why couldn’t I get myself to just do it, get up in the morning and go running or go to the gym?  Other than the fact that I hated going to the gym, torturing myself on those machines and running miles and miles on hard pavement until my shin splints came throbbing back and my knees were sore. If you are one of those people who genuinely loves the gym and loves to run (and who doesn’t suffer from running pains) then good for you! Keep it up.  You don’t need to read this article.  

If, however, you are like me or many of my friends and just can’t commit to a consistent work-out routine at the gym it may be time to consider some alternatives.  First of all, let’s agree to not use the words “work out.”  Exercise, if it is to become a regular part of your life, should be a fun and engaging activity.  The very term “work out” implies that it has to be hard and painful.  Exercise should never be painful.  Pain is the body’s method of communicating there is a problem.  If an activity is painful you are likely causing damage to your body.  That is not to say that you can be in and maintain excellent physical health by avoiding activities that are physically challenging.  Your body tones and builds muscle through resistance training and movement so there will be some exertion, but it can be a very fun and enjoyable process if you go about it the right way.  Here are just a couple of suggestions:

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is actually a martial art, though today, it is more frequently thought of as a form of moving meditation.  The fluid and graceful movements of the form are excellent for stimulating the body’s circulation and moving and opening joints: shoulders, hips, knees.  This is an excellent and low impact way to exercise your joints and keep them in good health to avoid injuries (which can be especially beneficial to people also involved in more high-impact sport as well as to more mature bodies which may become prone to stiffness and arthritis).  Tai Chi is also excellent for building up leg and arm strength through held postures (anaerobic exercise).  Balance is improved as weight is constantly shifted from one leg to the next.  Tai Chi cultivates rhythm, grace and calm.

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is an excellent way to build upper body strength and gain over all muscle tone by balancing , shifting and lifting your own body weight.  Even if you only climb at an indoor climbing gym you can still experience a full range of health benefits.  Climbing improves manual dexterity, balance, mental calm and problem solving skills when finding your way up a route.  Climbing can also help overcome a fear of heights and increase self-confidence.  Balance and coordination are key.  Depending on how steep the route or the size of the hand and foot holds you can engage different muscle groups, sometimes focusing more on arm strength, other times on the legs. 

Belly Dancing

Ever wanted to try something new and exotic?  Why not try belly dancing?  It’s not called belly dancing without reason.  This is a fabulous way to exercise your core muscles!  If you don’t like doing endless crunches consider spinning and shimmying to middle eastern music instead.  Any form of dance can be a wonderful way to exercise but belly dancing really isolates the central muscles of the lower back and abdominal area.  Plus you don’t have to worry about finding a dance partner. 

There are endless ways of finding engaging and fun ways to exercise.  If there is an activity you have always wanted to try don’t hold back.  Go for it!  Have you always wanted to learn ballet, tennis, water polo, cross-country skiing?  Try hula or jumping rope, take up the Tango or start water aerobics.  What ever the activity, it’s never too late to get started.  You don’t need professional aspirations to engage a new activity.  The only requirement is that you enjoy yourself while you do it.  Dancing, martial arts, climbing, swimming, any activity that involves physical movement holds a level of grace and fluidity that is beautiful to watch and to practice.  Even while exercising you should be able to feel graceful, beautiful and strong.  You are not only active to improve your physical body but also to support you spiritual and emotional body.   

Proper form and technique are absolutely essential when engaging in any physical activity.  Even while participating in low impact movement such as Tai Chi using improper form could lead to injury.  Over-extending arms and legs can cause damage to joints.  I strongly advise taking a class taught by an experienced and knowledgeable instructor when starting any new activity so you may gain full health benefits while avoiding injury by using improper form.  Classes are often offered at different levels and can be a great way to meet other people who are just starting out.  You can learn together, support each other and make new friends in the process.