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Make no mistake about it; exercise and eating healthy are all part of the process called self-improvement.  The desire to look and feel good is also part of this process.

The human being is beautifully designed to learn, grow and adapt.  All exercise techniques, machines and protocols are created to help our bodies adapt to different stress and exertion levels.  These experiences challenge the body to create new ways of re-structuring itself to be stronger, faster or more flexible.

At the core of self-improvement lies choice.  That is, when we appreciate the benefits a healthy body adds to our lives we continue to make a series of choices that supports this desire. 

It is in the direct experience of living day-to-day and moment-to-moment with these choices that cause adaptation to occur and results to happen.  However, untapped by most, is a layer of personal potential that provides us with an opportunity for deeper personal realizations. 

The combination of actively seeking out new ways in which to use, move and exert your bodies as part of a process of increasing self-understanding is powerful indeed!

You can add to the value of any and all exercise routines by using each workout session as an exploration of yourself.

Questions to ask oneself:

• How do you move?
• Why do you move the way you do?
• Are you moving in ways that provides health and comfort to your life?
• Where do you hold tension in your body?
• How do you feel when you are exercising? 
• Are you bored? 
• Tired? 
• Are you paying close attention to what feels good for you? 

Believe it or not, exercise can be enjoyable, productive and even mentally stimulating!

My experience has shown me that at a core level we are all highly interested in learning about ourselves.  When someone comes along and helps us to see parts of ourselves we are almost always extremely grateful and better off.

How you move your body is direct information about you and why you are the way you are.  However, in order to learn this inner language you have to pay attention. 

As my clients learn to embrace this inner perspective they usually experience a deeper understanding of themselves that deepens with every session.  This motivates them to continue to work, explore and discover more about themselves.  This information feeds into the other aspects of their lives as their self-development progresses.

While they have the benefit of my continual presence in their lives you do not need me in front of you to begin to unlock your potential in this way. The best way to start is just go to the gym and focus on your movements.

Do you watch TV in order to get through a cardio workout?    Remember that with everything in our world there is always a benefit and a price. This habit of distracting yourself to make time go by faster also reinforces the separation between your body and mind.  This separation is that while the body is doing one thing that mind and your focus is elsewhere.  The mind constantly craves stimulation in the form of constant thought.  Constant thinking can get in the way of being in the moment where life is happening.  If you are watching TV who is monitoring what is happening to your body during your cardio session?  Are you working hard?  How well are you running or performing?  How is your form? 

A deeper question to consider is: how will the practice of placing my attention on other things besides my body, during physical moments, affects my body and mind?  What am I teaching myself?  What patterns am I creating and reinforcing in my life?  Understand that eventually everything we do becomes ingrained especially if it’s repetitive.  The question then becomes, what other situations during the day will I transfer this skills of separating my mind and body?  I hope your answer is not during sex.

Try this one on – let’s say that instead of trying to distract yourself from what you are doing during exercise you place all of your attention upon every movement of your body and every sensation you experience.  Do you think that this would improve your experience of sex?  Imagine what would happen if you continued to do this in every workout?  Imagine what it would do for your ability to focus?  Do you think this kind of focus would improve the results you gain from your efforts? 

Mr. Sheldon Ginsberg President of FitPath Health Services holds a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science from State University of New York at Buffalo.  In addition, he has obtained advanced certification as a Strength and Conditioning Coach from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and he is also a 12th level Reiki Master Teacher.  To learn more you can visit www.thefitpath.net.

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