What Moves You?

One of the most important things you can do for your body is to move it every day. And I don’t just mean from the couch to the fridge and back again.

You don’t have to be a marathon runner or a heavy-weight bodybuilder. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym. There are many ways to get movement into your day that are not that extreme but will contribute to your healthy lifestyle.

Easy ways to get movement into your day

Walking

One of my favorite ways to move my body is by taking a nice brisk walk. It’s also one of the easiest forms of exercise you can do. It requires no special equipment, no special clothes except a supportive pair of suitable shoes and can be done without much planning. I try to walk every day, especially when the sun is shining and the wind is low. Not only does it move my body but it’s also good for my soul.

Yoga 

I enjoy yoga. When I complete a yoga session, I feel rejuvenated. And don’t think that you don’t get a workout from yoga…because you do. Yoga can help maintain balance as we age. It helps to maintain flexibility, strength, and supports good posture. Joint and bone health are also important as we age and yoga helps in that area without undue stress on those joints.

Yoga has more than just physical benefits. It’s also good for your mental health. It’s good for stress management. Practicing yogic breathing techniques helps to down regulate your stress response so even when you do face stress your reaction is calmer.

Floor exercises

What I’m referring to here are the exercises we learned in gym class growing up. These routines use your own body weight and its relationship to gravity to give you the benefit. I remember doing donkey kicks until my hips burned and I thought I would never walk again.

How about those abdominal crunches? My stomach hurts just thinking about them. Say what you will but those exercises moved us and provided benefit by strengthening our muscles.

Play with your kids

If you don’t have kids, borrow someone else’s. They might be happy for the break. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. It should be fun and something you look forward to doing.

Get into some good sweaty fun running around with kids. Feel their joy and experience your own joy. There is no sweeter sound on this planet than the sound of a child’s laughter.

Laughter is good for the soul and your body. A deep belly laugh helps tone the abdominal muscles and is good for the respiratory system.

Get silly with your kids. They’ll love it and I dare say, so will you.

Dance

If you’re ever looking for me at a wedding, you’ll find me on the dance floor. I am no Ginger Rogers but I always have a good time. I love to dance until I can’t move. This is another form of movement that’s good for the soul. What is a better expression of your body than to dance to some great music?

Did you ever notice that when you dance, you feel muscles you forgot you have? Or is that just me? I always feel like I’m getting a workout when I dance and it feels great! It uses everything you’ve got.

Next time you hear some music, dance like no one is watching. You’ll be amazed at the endorphin rush you get if you do it for awhile. Dance alone. Dance with someone. Dance for someone. Just dance.

All of these forms of exercise are good additions to your healthy lifestyle. They will contribute to a long, vibrant, healthy life. I’m counting on it.

What moves you?

As a health coach, I work with women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life. If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.