Sometimes I think exercise gets a bad rap. It just doesn’t sound fun, does it? I love the kind of exercise that doesn’t really feel like exercise…taking a ballet class, gardening, taking a stroll around the block. I am not a fan of forcing myself to do hard exercise programs. Ugggg…
But I think we need to remember the benefits of exercise…
Exercise produces endorphins which give us a sense of well-being. (I want that.)
Exercise gives us energy. (yes, please!)
Exercise prevents disease. (definitely want that.)
Exercise makes us feel good. (yep…want that!)
Years ago, I exercised for all the wrong reasons…
To get skinny.
To get toned.
To get skinny.
To get toned.
Possible, yes, but enough to keep me motivated…not at all! It wasn’t until I became a mom that I really understood the emotional and mental benefits of exercising. Now for me, exercising is feeding my body energy, enthusiasm, joy, and even time with God and time to myself.
How about you? Are you exercising for the right reasons? What might need to change? What if we hit the pavement in our running shoes or camped out in our garden for the afternoon or went to that ballet class even though we don’t feel like it….how might our sense of well-being change? How might we feel about ourselves? How might it boost our mood?
When I was in high school, sometimes I didn’t feel like going to ballet class. As my mom drove me to the studio…me probably sulking a bit…she would always remind me that I will feel better if I just go. She was always right. Dancing energized me and filled my heart with joy.
So whatever your day looks like, find a way to move your body…not to fit into next season’s jeans, not to lose a single pound, but simple to feel good and feel energized.
I think on that note, I am going to go pull some weeds in my garden and then maybe do a few stretches. :)
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