Working out to work it out

As I write this, the government of Canada is in the throes of a campaign to encourage awareness about the current state of the nation's health.  We are suffering from a chronic lack of physical exercise!  The health issues should be obvious.  Obesity is on the rise, especially among children and teens.  Our poor diet and stationary lifestyle is having a dangerously negative effect on our bodies.   And further evidence suggests that we all are aware of the problem, even if we fail to effectively address the issue.  Every January, gym membership sales go through the roof. But by March, those promises we made to ourselves are forgotten and the money we spent to join the fitness club is lost income.    While we all are aware that a lack of proper exercise leads to physical health issues, some of us might be forgetting that physical movement and exercise affects our emotional well being too.  

As a life coach and motivator, I am constantly telling my clients that feeling good is a powerful tool for tackling life’s challenges.  Finding a way to feel good in the face of adversity is not only possible, it’s the best way to tackle life’s biggest problems.  And one way to feel good is to treat your body right.  Exercise and physical movement will empower your mind and charge up your will power.    

When you get your blood flowing, the rush you feel just seems to carry you through the day.   The small things don’t bother you: traffic, the car breaking down, annoying clients, troubles in the news...  you name it.  Just a little bit of physical exercise can really put things in perspective.  It is like reaching for a bottle of “feel good” and gulping it down.

The kind of exercise I am talking about doesn't require a lot of time or money. It need not be a complicated regimen or a deeply challenging program. Don’t misunderstand me: your visits to the gym, yoga class, spinning class and/or pilates is a good idea. But, in this article, I just want you to know that, at any time, you can get active enough to pull your mood up and to find the “feel good” place in your mind to carry on through the challenges of your day. 

For example, when I am feeling lethargic, negative, even a little depressed, I like to get up and dance! All by myself. In my living room. I turn the stereo up loud and dance my butt off to all my favourite songs, until I start to feel better. Afterwards, I am usually sweaty and tired, but I always feel better.   Sometimes a person just needs to make time to listen to the music and dance. There is no right or wrong way: just do it!  It’s all about losing yourself and letting go. 

Having said that, I must say, I love the gym.  Sometimes, I just need to have a very hard workout.   I don’t let it bother me that I am not the strongest person in the weight-room, or that I can’t do what others do.  I’m in the gym to help myself feel better, to get over what ever it that is holding me back, not compete with others or look for ways to quit.  If you decide to get a fitness club membership, be sure to have yourself tested by a professional trainer or your doctor before trying a heavy workout program.  Remember: in this article we are talking about helping you feel great, not helping you become a professional athlete.  Do what makes you feel good, and what takes you away from your sadness or lethargic attitude.

How about a walk in the country, or through a lush green park?  Get out in the fresh air, where you can focus on nature, and the beautiful things that grow in the open.  Breathe deeply. Walk. Feel blessed. The out-of-doors can certainly put perspective on life and on the things that we let bother us while bogged down by the daily grind. 

If things are really tough, sometimes the best physical activity you can muster is a good cry.  Don’t be embarrassed.  Close the door, and let it all out.  Personally, I must tell you that sometimes, I most certainly need to cry.   Even though I give advice for a living, I suffer from the same challenges as my clients.  I can get very sad, very upset and pent-up inside. I need to have the release that comes with crying.  Afterwards, you will feel tired, like you have been working hard, in a good way.  Crying, although not always necessary, is always very physical.

The menacing aspect of our negativity is the hold it can have on our bodies.  When we are down, we will come up with a dozen excuses why getting physical, even taking a walk, is not possible, or not a good idea “at this time.”  I once met an older gentleman at the gym who told me that the hardest part of exercising for him was putting on his running shoes.  This was because all he could think about when he was getting suited up were the excuses he had for quitting, for not getting physical that day.  Once his shoes were tied, it was easy for him.  Despite his reservations, his reasons for quitting, he always felt good when he was active.  Isn’t that the same for all of us?  Don’t deny yourself the pleasures and emotional benefits of a workout, or an activity that gets your body moving.  I’m sure you will find that even the simplest physical exertion will help you navigate any mental state that is holding you back from being your best.  You can call it “working out to work it out.”