The "Right" Exercise

You probably have already guessed what I'm going to say, but listen to your body.  What does your body like?   What do you like to do?

Naturally, everyone has different needs.  Here are a few thoughts to bear in mind when choosing an exercise plan.

Enjoyment-- The more fun and enjoyable an activity is, the more likely you are to fully engage in it and stick with it.  Enjoyment in the body is very relaxing and healing.  When you are enjoying something, your sympathetic system, part of your nervous system, relaxes.

What do you enjoy?  Do you like working out at the gym?  Do you enjoy exercise classes?  Yoga?  Do you prefer to swim, or walk in the neighborhood?  Do you like playing organized sports?  Do you like hiking, biking, working in the yard, cleaning out the basement or building things?  Find something you enjoy!

Mixing it up-- Mixing things up helps to work different muscle groups and joints in different ways, as well as maintain our interest in the process. Generally speaking, routines are good for us, but when it comes to exercise, we can get bored.  If our exercise routine becomes boring to us, we may find we start to dread doing it and find excuses why we "just have no time to fit it in," start skipping it, and eventually give it up all together.  We subsequently start to feel guilty for not keeping it up.  Sound familiar?

Guilt is definitely not a healthy tension to hold in the body.  Feeling as though we can't "stick to something," like we've failed or given up, or worrying that we'll never be able to shed that extra weight, can be very stressful on the body.

How it makes you feel-- How do you feel while you are exercising?  Do you feel like you are really working your body in a good way?  Does the exercise hurt?  Pay attention to your body.  A general rule to follow is:  if it hurts during exercising, don't do that particular exercise because your body is not ready for it yet.  If your body hurts later or the next day, you may have done too much at once or perhaps didn't stretch enough afterwards.  If it doesn't hurt, then you are probably good to go.

Discomfort is not the same as hurting.  You can sometimes be uncomfortable at the beginning; but as you continue to work out, your muscles seem to like it.  Remember that after starting a new exercise, you may be sore for the next couple days.  Ease into it and pace yourself.

Take a few moments to notice how you feel after exercising?  Do you feel energized, happy?  Do you feel productive and ready to take on other projects?  Or do you feel exhausted or in pain?  Your body will guide you.

Reality-- Going to the gym or having time for a long workout may not be a reality for you.  You may have young children or other responsibilities.  Take that into consideration.  Involve them by going for a walk or bike ride together.  If you are at the soccer or baseball field, walk around the perimeter as they practice.  Take them to a playground and walk a few laps around the park as they play.

Indoors, you can put music on and dance around with the kids, which is usually a big hit.  Do sit-ups using them as weight.  You can also add ankle or arm weights and walk around.  There are a lot of creative ways to exercise.

Action

The main point is:  just move!  Do something.  How long or how hard you exercise is not the most important part...just begin.  Not exercising because beginning seems so daunting is usually what keeps people from starting.  They think "do it right or don't do it at all."  Not true.  "No pain, no gain" is not true either.

I say listen to your body.  It will steer you right.  It will tell you what you need.  Think of some activities that you think would be fun, write them down, and pick one to start.  Remember to begin gradually to avoid injury and, most importantly, have fun!