Throughout the years my exercise regimen and physical fitness have changed as I have. I have had bouts of feeling as strong as ever and moments of pain and weakness. In this blog I wanted to share a snap shot into my own journey with movement and my body so that you can find comfort in knowing you are not alone in yours and to help inspire you to get started.
When did you get introduced to exercise?
Like many, I was involved in organized team sports since I could run. In high school my life was organized around my sport. I had my days and weeks planned. I felt strong, fast, healthy.
When I went off to university, I tried to continue with this same regimen, but it started to get tough. Placed in a different environment, no longer having my organized team sports, with new responsibilities and goals, new friends and social standards, my exercise routine changed. Then I entered my late twenties and early thirties, finished school, and began my career. I traveled, I moved cities. I began to learn more about investing, real estate. Again, my responsibilities, priorities and friend circles shifted. As I piled more onto my plate (starting a business for one - yikes), my physical health and exercise routine often got put to the side (anyone else been here?).
And so began the constant frustrating fluctuation, waves of inconsistent exercise, and a slow disconnect from my body. This became especially apparent during the pandemic, when all of our lives were turned upside down.
So how can we get back on track? Back to love of exercise, movement, and consistency.
I tried a lot of different things and definitely had bouts of irritation. One day last year (which inspired this blog post) I felt a craving to move. As always I felt like I had to do something structured, concentrate on something specific for a dedicated period of time. That’s what’s expected of us when we “work out” right? Maybe I should concentrate on mobility and take a yoga class? I haven’t done a leg day in a while so maybe I should focus on strength instead. I unrolled my yoga mat, still unsure, plugged in my ear phones and started with a cat camel. I figured I should warm up before whatever session I decided to stick to. Time passed, and I never made a decision. I found myself moving freely, for an hour. I sometimes transitioned between yoga poses or pilates based exercises, and I even added in some lower and upper body strengthening. I didn’t focus on any specific reps or sets. I chose whatever felt good at that moment. I was never bored. My thoughts never drifted to my work or my never ending to-do list. It was just me and my body and I let it call the shots. I ended my work out with a smile on my face and thought, “hello old friend.”
I may not have same the endurance, speed or strength I did when I was in high school, but that’s ok. I’m not in high school anymore. I have new values, new priorities, new sports and new goals. I am always changing and so should my physical fitness. But I often forget this. Instead I try to exercise as I did in my past or as others do around me and get disappointed in myself when I don’t meet my past expectations and current social norms.
I am 32. I’ve realized as I have gotten older, and especially in these last couple of years, that above all else I want to always be strong, mobile and have the ability to participate in any exercise, hobby or daily task in my life at that time. Instead of trying to compare myself to others or my past self and try to do exercise for a certain time period or with specific weight, I want to do whatever my body needs in that moment. I need to spend time with my body, check in with how it's feeling. I need to move, period
““Walk, run, or adventure, whatever it may be, free your form and fall in love with movement again. Feel good in your body””
We live in our body every second of the day, but how often do you put aside time to focus on it?
Just your body. Nothing else. This doesn’t mean trying to keep up with a fast paced class, nor does it mean navigating a scary descent on your mountain bike. These activities are awesome, and I always encourage people to participate in them, I do as well! What I’m talking about is spending time with just your body and yourself. I have conversations on a daily basis about injury, pain or lack of strength and mobility. My clients are often disappointed in themselves, they feel that their bodies let them down. Or they are ashamed by how they perform or appear physically. They feel guilt about not being able to reach their fitness goals. They also express anger about not being able to participate in their sport or activity of choice.
You may be injured, unable to participate in your normal activities and find it difficult to stick to a rehabilitation plan. Or you may feel stuck, out of shape, with no idea how to reach your goals. Whatever case it may be, let’s start by falling in love with movement again or for the first time. I dare you to take a few minutes everyday to move. No specific exercise. No specific reps or sets. This may look like just lying on your yoga mat and breathing, taking a walk in the woods alone, dancing in your living room. Give yourself a little time to move and feel good in your body.
Once this relationship has been established a more rigorous exercise regimen may not be so tough after all!
