Exercise has become a scary word for many people. It is often associated with torturous hours on the treadmill or tripping over ones own feet in a class where everyone else seems to know the moves. It is no wonder so many people find it difficult to get motivated to exercise. Simply knowing it is good for you is not enough. To discover the kind of motivation that comes from within and lasts, follow these three guidelines: find the joy in exercise, incorporate it into your life in a way that complements not complicates it, and change the way you think about exercise.
Jumping for Joy!
Eight years ago, while working with a personal training client (let’s call her Hanna), I suggested she integrate some running into her fitness plan. In a hushed voice with eyes downcast, Hanna confided that since having her second child she could no longer run because her bladder was too weak. She was only in her mid thirties. I was perplexed; wasn’t this as a problem for older adults? At the time, I was three months pregnant with my first child and feared the possibility that I could be doomed to the same fate.
12 Ways to a Healthier 2012
There was a time when we thought of health as simply the absence of disease- as long as you were not sick, had low blood pressure, and good cholesterol readings, you were seen as a healthy person. Today we recognize that our health is defined by numerous other factors, such as (but not limited to): what we eat, physical fitness, sleep, levels of stress, emotional well-being, feeling connected to others, and our general outlook on life.
The Race that Wasn’t
It had been four months since I last raced and the itch to commit to something had grown incessant. Following the lead of my running partner, Erin, I signed up for the Santa Cruz Mountains 21K, a trail race from Harvey West, through Pogonip, and deep into Henry Cowell, with two waist-deep river crossings.
Push-ups: for all ages and abilities
The push-up is a fundamental exercise that I routinely use with most of my clients. It works the whole body and can be easily modified for either the 75 year-old woman or the 25 year-old athlete. Push-ups engage numerous muscles including the core (a group of muscles which support and protect the back), chest, shoulders, and triceps (the area on the back of the arm that can get loose and wobbly, causing the “double goodbye” effect when waving).
