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Hello My New Fitness Friends.

As this is the first article I am publishing in this forum I thought I would begin by saying hello and welcoming you to what I hope will be an informative and mutually beneficial relationship.

As many people do not have the time to think about fitness it has been left to us, the Fitness Professionals, to keep you informed.

So without any further ado, here is my first offering.  I hope this sets the tone for you and what you can expect from reading my articles. 

My first words to you are…

Enjoy your body.
Enjoy your life.

Warm Regards,

Sheldon Ginsberg

Be sure to visit www.thefitpath.net 

Exercise As Play

Exercise, for those who love it, is a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and fun.

Unfortunately, for those whose driving compulsion it is to fit their bodies within the idealistic rigid framework set up by the fashion/fitness magazines or the extreme look provided by bodybuilders, fun may be the last word you would use to describe your exercise experience.

This compulsive way of exercising is often motivated by obsession, anxiety and fear of gaining weight, not exercising “correctly” or “efficiently” enough, or eating too many calories.

With all the science behind fitness techniques and methods we are inexorably heading towards exercising because of the results rather than exercising because we like it.

The problem is when we are forced to do something to avoid an unpleasant experience (i.e. gaining weight) the activity usually transforms into a chore (ugh) and usually we end up resenting it (double ugh).

Add to this having to push yourself hard enough to create the “no pain, no gain” feeling only produces more pain and stress in your already stressful life and your off to the dark side of exercise. 

There is no doubt that results are important.  However, if your focus is to constantly improve the efficiency of your efforts and this effort is catalogued, analyzed and partitioned into a tightly focused means of optimizing results with maximum effort your efforts themselves lose spontaneity, fun and creativity.

Your body is no different than your mind when it comes to learning something new.  It loves it!  When we learn new things our brains, nervous systems and cells light up in joy!  Learning something new is a fundamental part of life here on Earth. 

When you are working out are you learning something new about your body or about movement or are you focusing on watching the TV to get through the hour?

Understand, there is no separation between your body and mind.  From a single cell you were born.  From this cell your body and brain formed.  One way to look at it is that your body is an extension of your brain or your brain is an extension of your body.  Either way they are the same.  They are you.

If you focus on movements that feel good, support the kind of person you are in your life and challenges you then your body learns, grows and experiences pleasure.  Isn’t that worth focusing on?

Think about it, aren’t repetitive linear movements boring.  Doesn’t your mind wander?  Does this really challenge your nervous or muscle system? Inevitably this type of training reduces your body’s ability to grow and adapt and you grow bored.  

The results of my professional experience has yielded the following two concepts:

Pain causes the body/mind to close down and pleasure causes the body/mind to open

And…

Exercise is a means to improve how you use your body.

I believe that the more you play and focus on moving your body (which does not mean you cannot work hard) the more overall health is attained beyond looking good. 

So here is the deal.  Play with your body.  Play with the weights and the machines.  Try something new.  Forget that you have to work at your target heart rate or 3 sets of 10 reps. Take away all the compulsive needs to have results with your workout and let go.  Run if you want to.  Walk if it feels good.  Push yourself if it feels good.  Learn to listen to your body.  Learn to give it what it needs rather than give it what you think it needs.  These are two different things. 

Your body has a voice.  It is as real as the voice you speak with or the voice in your head.  When we learn to listen to our body’s voice is when we establish a deeper connection to who we are.

Pain need never be experienced in your workout unless it feels good. 

Here is how it works:

• Listen to your body
• Do what feels good in the realm of exercise i.e. dancing, running, biking, swimming, yoga-ing, Pilates, spinning, weights, functional training, etc…
• Pay attention to what you are doing while you are doing it but don’t make it mean too much – its just exercise
• Add the element of play, which means spontaneity, fun, exploration and creativity
• Work hard because it feels good.  If it doesn’t then work just hard enough so it does feel good.

Run for 10 minutes on the treadmill and then switch to the bike for 10 minutes.  Challenge yourself to reach new levels or just relax in the sauna.  Lift lighter weights and balance on one foot.  Try using your body in new and different ways to improve your physical evolution.  Apply your mental creativity to movements.  There is so much more to exercise than you know. 

Understand that you and your body are always evolving.  If you start at play you will get better at playing.  Before you know it all the result you wanted you have plus more.  It is so much easier this way. 

But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself. 
   
 

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