The Joyful Gym Rat

This post builds on Monday’s post, even though the warm spring weather that inspired that post headed south again (c’mon mother nature, would you make up your damn mind?).    If you read Monday’s post, you might be spending some time today contemplating whether your current fitness routine is serving you.  The following is a little something I came up with when I did the same:

Dear Movement (more formally known as exercise),

I have grown to love you.  What was once like an arranged marriage has become a complete and total union.  This was not always the case.  I used to should all over myself in regards to you.  Look to you to shrink me down, make me smaller.  I came to you out of guilt and fear as opposed to love.

Afraid of who I would become without you, I built a life around you.  Uncertain of the extent to which you made me a societally acceptable human female, it seemed plausible to do this just in case.   I obsessed over you for all the wrong reasons, not realizing your true potential as a tool for growth.

Through the passing of time and a buttload of experience I now see the truth: you are a gift to be enjoyed, not a force to be reckoned with.  When I hold on to you lightly, and not for dear life, your true colors emerge.  No longer am I the weary soul who used you solely as an outlet for calories.  No longer do I come to you to make my supposed wrongs right.  No longer will I slog it out on the freakin’ treadmill instead of rejoicing in dance just because it burns more calories (not that there is anything wrong with the treadmill, done with the right mindset it can be fun too!  Just not a personal favorite…)

Exercising out of guilt, fear, or shame sucks.  Moving for the love of it is where it’s at.

(And no, this isn’t just a severe case of personal trainer Stockholm syndrome…at least I don’t think so…)

The Joyful Gym Rat (more formally known as Laura)

For more fitness ideas head over to the Joyful Gym Rat page on Facebook!

As we head into the weekend, I invite you to slow down…your strength training that is.  Bursts of quick movement can be fun, but don’t underestimate the power of slow and controlled movement.

Just like meditating fosters awareness of thought, unhurried movement fosters awareness of the body.  Moving mindfully from time to time can have big benefits on overall progress and performance.  Constantly racing through workouts can lead to injury.  Mindlessly performed movements lose their potency.

I don’t always perform my workouts at the pace of a turtle, but when I do I choose the following:

-Slow Flow Yoga: Yoga, particularly slow flow vinyasa, is a great way to notice muscles (including ones you never knew you had).  To get the most benefit in regards to strength, find a class that incorporates lots of standing poses and weight bearing movements.

-Slow Motion Weight Lifting: Slowing down weight training puts the emphasis on mastery.  Try performing a pushup by pressing up for 4 counts then lowering down for 4 counts.  Instead of pausing at the top or bottom of the movement, keep the flow constant.

-Single Leg Balance: Single leg balance exercises strengthen the hip, knee, and ankle complex.  Standing on one leg is a great way to fire up the glutes, which tend to get sleepy from too much sitting.  Next time you get the urge to lunge, try coming to a balance instead of bringing the feet together in between repetitions.

For more fitness ideas head over to the Joyful Gym Rat page on Facebook!