Let it Flow

We had lunch with my in-laws today and my father-in-law asked me “Stacey, how is business? How do you keep people motivated to stay fit when things always come up that keep people from making the time?”

I thought about it for a moment, but then the answer was easy. It’s what I’ve been talking about for a few months now and using in my business. My response included these three main points:

There is too much pressure to be a size 2, with sleek muscular arms. Genetically, many people will never get there. I say stop looking at everyone else and start paying attention to yourself. Questions to ask include: How do you feel? Do you know your vitals? Is your blood pressure in check? What about your cholesterol? Can you make it up the stairs without huffing and puffing?

Think about how you feel on the inside instead of stressing about how you look on the outside. I believe that when a person feels good, they look good. I get more compliments on days that I feel good than on days when I’ve had my hair done and put make-up on. When you feel good about yourself, no matter what you look like, people see that and it shows through as natural beauty.

What I need today may be different than what I needed yesterday. The great news is there are options. The bad news, there are options - so how do I know what I need? Yoga helped me figure it out. With patience and practice, you’ll start to understand when the body is ready for more or needs a rest. The only thing I’m training for now is life which enables me the freedom to pick and choose activities based on how I feel. Pick and choose your activities based on what makes you feel good.

I remember the day this realization came to me. I started a workout exhausted. I was lifting weights when suddenly I stopped mid-workout nearly in tears and said to myself “What are you doing!” I listened to my body and stopped. It was frightening and liberating at the same time. Thank goodness I work out at home, that scene would have been quite embarrassing in the gym. Now I listen to my body more (though I’m still not perfect), and base my activities on what I need - to be outside, to rest, to run. It’s different every day.

I know this isn’t a new concept, yet I still know a lot of people who think the gym is the only place to get fit. Getting to the gym takes effort and time. I quit the gym 2 years ago and set up a small space in my home primarily for convenience. It’s much harder to skip a 20 minute workout when the “gym” is two rooms away. I also enjoy outdoor activity as much as possible. The gym no longer made sense anymore. Choosing activities I enjoy is more motivating than heading to the gym day after day. It allows me versatility without feeling bound by a monthly gym payment! I stay motivated and staying active no longer feels like work.

Here are some examples of activities I enjoy without the gym.

Strength - rock climbing and kayaking; I have weights/bands and a stability ball at home.

Cardio - hiking, snowshoeing and biking;

Flexibility - I practice yoga.

Bottom line: Instead of thinking of it as work, consider it a fun and enjoyable experience.

Now, I focus more on how I feel and what I need. It’s taken time to get there. What about you? Do you think more about your looks or how you feel? What works for you?