What does your perfect workout mean? Is it a stroll in the park, taking a fitness class, a rigorous hour of tennis, or using the Stairmaster during your favorite TV show?
Maybe it means focusing on your breath in a yoga class, stretching your muscles with Pilates or running to your favorite songs. While any of these workouts benefit your body, mind and spirit, many of us don’t exercise at all. In fact, the only exercise we’re getting is when we exercise our right…not to exercise. If this sounds like you, it’s time to find your perfect workout. But what if you haven’t worked out in weeks, months, even years?
You can always start with walking. You know how to do it, you don’t need to be exceptionally coordinated and all you need is a properly fitting pair of walking shoes. Just by getting outside and noticing the beauty that surrounds you may be enough to keep you motivated to walk. If that’s not enough, you can bring an iPod or MP3 player and listen to your favorite music. There are also some great services, which enable you to download workouts according to your workout level and needs. You can even download podcasts of programs you enjoy or just use the time as an opportunity to de-stress and unwind.
If you leave for work early in the morning, you can have a gym bag packed and head to the gym before you come home. If you feel too guilty to try it, maybe realizing that the happier you are, the better you’ll be for everyone else might be enough to change your mind. You can also try exercising during your lunch break, taking a short walking break every hour or finding an exercise buddy you can walk with and be accountable to.
It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do something. The key is to find a way to incorporate exercise back into your life. If you do nothing now and exercise for fifteen minutes tomorrow, you’re moving in the right direction. What’s most important is that you give your body, mind and spirit what it so rightfully deserves so you can begin feeling strong, vibrant, healthy and happy.
