The Nurturing Well: By Jill Starbuck
For some people, the thought of exercise makes them sweat before they’ve made their first move. Whether it’s because they are out of shape, out of time, or just hate exercise, they forgo it. Once in a while, they may attempt it, but the attempt is halfhearted or performed incorrectly—both of which defeat the purpose of exercise. Too often, people make exercise a chore rather than a lifestyle. The biggest key to making exercise a lifestyle is to find a form of exercise that you enjoy.
People often try forms of exercise that make them feel miserable, are too difficult, or are too boring. They sometimes throw themselves into exercise regimens that aren’t suitable for their fitness level, which may cause an injury or make them too sore in the beginning. Other times, they don’t perform the exercise correctly, which causes them to become frustrated and give up. Sometimes they simply don’t give a particular exercise a chance or ever remain consistent enough to get the hang of it. Exercise enthusiasts have overcome all of these issues. For many, exercise is something they enjoy and is part of their daily routine. Without exercise, they don’t feel complete.
Exercise doesn’t have to be a grueling process. Nowadays, many inventive forms of exercise exist that seem more like fun and play than true exercise. For instance, for those who enjoy dancing, Zumba may be a perfect form of exercise to try as it incorporates modern dance moves with aerobic exercises for a high-energy, yet fun environment. For those who enjoy running, running events from 5Ks to full marathons flood the nation year round. Enjoy swimming? Try a water aerobics class. Need to improve flexibility? Try a yoga class. Short on time? Try interval exercises. Join clubs that focus on walking, running, swimming, and others. Check out local gyms and discover new forms of exercise you’ve never tried. For instance, some gyms offer pilates, piloxing, kickboxing, and more. Never heard of some of these? Check them out! Numerous options exist in the exercise world.
While it is ideal to exercise most days of the week, you could even fit in unique forms of exercise as entertainment. For instance, indoor trampoline parks and rock climbing adventures can get your heart pumping. Many local parks feature organized hikes, treetop rope courses, bike trails, and much more. Get creative. Meet a friend for a walk at a park, zoo, or mall to catch up. There is something out there for everyone. Don’t force yourself into a particular exercise because everyone else is doing it. Choose one that your truly enjoy. When you find the one activity that you enjoy, you are more likely to stick with it.
