There are days I feel like I am walking around with a bag of bricks in my backpack.  Here are a couple of suggestions for what to do about your workout on days like this.

Start with your feet! 

Foot exercises like flex and point and circles in both directions get you moving with minimal effort.  When you start with your feet a fresh surge of energy rises up your legs and up your spine waking up your brain and getting you ready for action.  

Do some pelvic tilts. 

When you consciously relate to your pelvis and move your pelvis gently you discover a well of creative energy that is just waiting for you to tap into it.

Breathing. 

Lengthening your inhales and lengthening your exhales oxygenates your muscles and feeds them.  This will make you feel lighter, brighter and ready to go into motion. Deep breathing opens the door to your intuition.

Ask yourself for permission to work out. 

A deeper level of politeness with ourselves comes with asking for permission.  Listen for a “yes” or a “no”. Respect the “no”, and follow the “yes”. Did you get a “yes”, ask your body, “what would you like to do in your workout?”

Listen and follow. 

Let your intuition guide you into motion.

If you are unclear about what your intuition is telling you, there are 3 steps to take to increase your intuition, ability to hear, and understanding.  

1.  Understand messages come from God through the hearts of the angels and Prophets on currents of light.  When you pray and ask for Guidance, ask God through which medium God is speaking to you. “Dear God, through which medium are you speaking to me?”
2. Practice active listening with God.  “Dear God what I am hearing is …., is this the Truth from the Real?”
3. Increase your daily spiritual practices such as prayer, chanting Divine Names, and dialoguing with God until you come to clarity.

Create New Habits Inspired by Good Feelings

As human beings we are habitual and repetitive creatures.  This can be both positive and negative depending on what the habit is.  Good habits can be defined as habits that maintain or improve health; whereas bad habits can be defined as actions that take us away from our goals.  Neutral habits have no effect on our goals, yet we question their benefit. Benefits are the main determining factor if the actions in your life are in alignment with your values, dreams, and goals.

When we associate good feelings with an action we are much more likely to repeat said action. 

The happiness factor is a huge determining factor if we will repeat an action. And at times in life we are required to perform actions we don’t like such as chores, financial responsibilities like paying bills and activities that relate to end of life care.  These actions require perseverance and a sense of responsibility that carries us through the action on a wave of “have to” rather than “want to”.

How do we determine which actions go under the “have to” list versus “want to”, and what do you do when you are caught in “I don’t want to.”?

I am learning how to slide goals into the “have to” list once they have floundered unsuccessfully in the “want to” list for too long.  Examples for me are going to sleep earlier, waking up earlier, and healthy food prep. Where as my daily workouts are my escape from my “have to” list, because my mat is my happy place.  When I am in motion I am at peace.

How do you feel at the end of a workout?  How do you feel at that moment when you first lie down onto the mat and allow all of your stress to melt into the earth?  How do you feel during your workouts when the thousands of thoughts that flow through your mind stop, because you are so focused on your body and your breathing?

These are the good feelings we want to cultivate around exercise that brings us to our mats daily whether we want to or not.  We bypass the questioning of if we are going to or not. And before we know it, we are unrolling our mats, lying down, and taking long slow deep breaths.  As we go into motion, health rises up our spines, rejuvenating us, refreshing us, and reminding us, “we can only do one thing at a time”. Take your time, choose your steps and next steps wisely, and decide what fits in with your big picture goals.