“The distance between who I am, and who I want to be, is separated only by my actions.”
~ Unknown
Good morning everyone! Well, I woke up a little bit sore this morning (the good kind!), as I stuck to my guns and got in some exercise yesterday.
I had set in my mind that I was going to try to get in some time right after writing this post, and before breakfast and my daily food prep. But I was feeling very sluggish yesterday from a poor nights sleep. And to be honest, as I continually work with “My Perfect Day” scenario, once I’m in my seat of creativity here, it’s very hard to want to step out of it. I’m in the flow, and taking time out to exercise in the morning feels counter-productive to my aspirations and other goals.
Beside, while I’m stiff upon waking, I’m even stiffer after sitting at my desk all day. My yoga teacher and physical therapist has always suggested that I divide my yoga up into AM and PM sessions.
And yes, I realize this all sounds like very good excuses. Yet, that’s what I’m struggling with. So when my little “quitting time” alarm sounded at 4PM yesterday, I forced myself to head back into my exercise yoga room.
I saw myself drawn to continuing on with a project I was delightfully working on. I saw myself really wanting to stop and have my afternoon cocktail on the porch. I used that same discipline that I’d found earlier to just say “sorry” to my habitual mind.
Here’s another thing I’ve been struggling with: The modern exercise world seems very centered around working out for one hour.
I’m really not sure that I have an hour. And even if I won the lottery, and had all the leisure time in the world, even then, I’m still not sure I’d spend an hour “exercising”. Mind you, I don’t count taking beautiful hikes all day “exercise” (which is what I’d be doing post-lottery winnings). I’m talking the forced kind of exercise that I’ve committed to doing right now.
The problem I have with the Hour Club of Exercise is that it’s really not an hour.
My hour yoga class is actually an 1:15. By the time I put on my yoga outfit, get my stuff ready to head out the door, drive to class, wait for class to start, take the class, chat afterwards, and drive home, I’ve usually exceeded 2:00 of time. My Friday classes, I consider a real treat for myself: I simply don’t have that time EVERY DAY.
Or, I’ll take Spencer as an example. When he trains daily for running races, he runs 5+ miles. Which, at a 9 minute “easy” pace, will take him 45 minutes or so. Add on to that – the time it takes him to get dressed, get all his gear in order, drive down to the beach, warm up, run, cool off, and drive back home – his exercise time is roughly 1:30. When he was working with his own “My Perfect Day” I respectfully pointed this out to him when he budgeted only one hour.
If you have a full hour to devote to exercise, good for you!
I’m just saying right now that I don’t.
And I’m tired of feeling guilty about it. Tired of the fitness industry making me feel like less than an hour isn’t good enough.
So there’s the starting point. Being honest with self about the goals we wish to achieve.
Because, just like this writing here, for exercise to become a habit, it’s got to become a DAILY HABIT.
Then, and only then, will it stop feeling like a chore and an inconvenience. It’ll become something ingrained in my daily way of joyful living!
As I went back to the Baby Steps of Goal Setting that I talked about the other day, I asked myself what I COULD commit to.
On my dreamboard is posted a quote:
There are 1,440 minutes in a day. It only takes 22 minutes of moderate exercise for good health.
I have 30 minutes. No more, no less.
So yesterday, I set myself up for success by using the allotted time in the morning to find a 30 minute exercise routine on-line that inspired me. Something that didn’t require a bunch of fancy equipment. Just me and my yoga mat.
I need something to follow.
What I came across is a 6 Week Boot Camp by eFit30:
http://www.efit30.com.au/slash-excess-pounds-with-this-six-week-bootcamp-program/
The program offers 6 weeks of unique 30 minute exercise routines – done on a yoga mat – via Youtube. All for free!
The on-line coach writes: “If you follow this plan as it’s laid out for you, I promise you are going to love the results you see. You’ll feel energized, you’ll see enhanced muscle definition, and more importantly, you will become a new, more fit you.”
Sounds perfect!
Well, on day one, I could only muster the first set – 10 minutes. I used the other 20 minutes to do easy yoga, and stretch out my back and hamstrings.
To quote Leo Babauta in his recent post, What the Exercise Habit did for Me: “Start Small. When I started running I couldn’t go for 10 minutes. So I went for 5. Then 7. Then 9. Eventually I ran a 5K, then a half marathon, marathon, eventually a 50-miler. But I started with 5 minutes.”
Pick a goal that is doable TODAY. And don’t allow yourself to miss two days in a row, EVER.
And most importantly, “Enjoy the habit. Really key — don’t punish yourself, but enjoy it.”
Are you with me? Make the commitment to put 22 minutes of exercise into your daily life. There’s no time like the present!
What the Exercise Habit did for Me via Zen Habits:
http://zenhabits.net/exercise-habit/
