We need to talk: about your exercise routine…

By Janine Danielle Luongo

Do you have one? Do you wish you had one? Did a MD, DO, PA, NP, RN, PT, or OT tell you to start one? Do you hate every nano-second of it? Do you dread it or even skip it altogether? Do you know where to even start?

I’m here to tell you: THAT’S OKAY. And me too. Or…it used to be me too, and honestly  sometimes still is. Starting and maintaining an exercise routine can be so daunting, even overwhelming. Maybe you had a routine in the past and you resented it or had trouble sticking to it, or maybe you don’t like what you’re doing now and aren’t sure what to do about it, but if you do one more burpee you’re going to scream. Let’s talk about that.

Downward Dog Yoga Pose

I want to help you re-frame something: exercise is not punishment. It is not something you’re doing to your body, it’s something you’re doing for your body (and your mind!) though I know it can feel otherwise. The pay off you can earn from it is frankly astounding: reducing/managing/fighting symptoms of disease, improved cardiovascular and pulmonary health, reducing blood pressure and stress, better quality sleep, less ‘brain fog’, improved self-esteem and self-worth, increased energy, lessening symptoms of depression, and so, so much more. It’s something you can do for your future self right now and it doesn’t have to be painful. You are allowed to decide how this exercise ‘thing’ goes, what it looks like for you; you are even allowed to like it!

Exercise is not a one size fits all deal. I know we’re surrounded by images of  people ultra-marathoning, being yogi masters, power lifting, boot-camping, swimming, and biking. It’s hard to not look at those people and say “Well clearly that’s the way to fitness! I need to do that!” even if it’s not what you had in mind, and you actually hate running or getting in a pool during winter. And once you start doing what you think you’re supposed to do to become fit like those people, you may burn out or fizzle slowly until you can’t find your sneakers or those weird toeless yoga socks.

Weird Toeless Yoga Sox

It’s important to your internal drive to have inspiration, but you’ll likely never stick with it if you don’t like it at least a little bit (which is why my running shoes haven’t seen the light of day in years, but my hiking boots are caked with mud). You know what works for one of my best friends? 5 AM runs 5 days a week (high impact exercise). You know what works for me? Hiking, walking, and online barre classes (low impact exercise). You know who sticks with it? Both of us because we do what works for us as individuals, not what works for the other person. Exercise doesn’t have to look like weight-lifting or hitting the treadmill; it can also look like walking, tai chi, pilates, or gardening. Or it can look like weight-lifting. Again, it’s about what you’ll actually do and keep doing.

That’s why I want to implore you to follow your curiosity. You don’t have to do works for your neighbor or coworker or spouse. You DO have to explore though, and good thing for us, humans are a curious species. Have you had that moment when you walk by a yoga class in progress or see people loading up their backpacks for a day hike and felt that little tug that says “Hey… that’s interesting, I wonder if I could…”? But you let the thought pass and return to your loathsome squats because you buy the idea that this is what exercise should look like for you, or you resign yourself back to the couch and chip bag because you aren’t flexible/young enough/energetic enough/a hiking/biking/lifting type of person. Those seconds where something piques your interest is where the magic is.

That’s where I want you to practice mindfulness - don’t let those moments pass - notice them and write them down in your phone or sticky note on the mirror and return to them. That’s how you can find what works for you more quickly; if you’re interested instead of begrudgingly going through the motions, you have a much better chance of finding your ‘thing’.

So let’s touch on barriers to following your curiosity to exercise that works for you. The biggest one I struggled with on my path to fitness was not my physical ability - it was my mindset. Growing up, I was lucky to live in a house on a few acres that were  filled with woods which butted up to a river and a massive hill. It was completely magical to me and I spent hours and hours out there with my brother just running around and exploring. As I got older, I spent less time out there, and more time inside with screens and books. I was involved in team sports, but sometimes, often times, it was like pulling teeth. It became a sort of running joke about how I hated exercise and would do anything to get out of it. I became someone who cultivated the image of myself as a non-exerciser; I was almost proud of it! When I finally started to feel sluggish enough and uncomfortable enough to rise up and do something about it, I was embarrassed. Not by my body, but by my desire to finally start exercising! Go figure! I was embarrassed that people would notice me change my actions. Often when you change something about yourself, people around you take notice and point it out to you, which can be extremely uncomfortable even if they’re supportive.

But you know what, change is inherently uncomfortable and that’s okay. That’s where growth happens. You’re going to find it more difficult to change or try new things if you don't allow your perception of yourself, of who you are or could be, to evolve regardless of who you are at this exact moment.

Okay, so what if fear of change is not what’s stopping you? Maybe you don’t have any ideas about what you might like because the you aren’t sure what all is out there or you just haven’t seen anything that sparks your interest yet. Again, this is where following your curiosity comes into play, this time with a little more effort:

• Get a copy of your local parks and recreation center schedule for the season and highlight all the things that look remotely interesting; then try one or try a handful! Some often have trial periods so there’s nothing to lose.   
• Are you a student/faculty/administration member in a college? Grab that gym class catalog and put your facilities fee to good use!
• Check websites like MeetUp and Craig’s List; you’d be amazed what your neighbors have organized (curling! kickball! Tai chi! hiking trips! walking clubs!).😀
• Online classes are great for people on limited time, traveling heavily, low on funds, don’t have a car, or who don’t like exercising in public: you can fall out of downward dog from the comfort of your living room in your pajamas, or hit ‘play’ in that one hour before you have to make dinner and help with homework. These often have trial periods too, so keep clicking!
• Sports and outdoors retailers often host classes and workshops on sports and outdoor activities, just check their websites!

Sometimes you just need to gain momentum; just start moving your body. Truly. Go for a walk as often as you can. If nothing else, it is free, it can clear your mind, it benefits your blood pressure and your heart among other things, and is low impact. Bring a podcast to listen to while you walk, or your child, your significant other, your dog...there are no rules :)

Janine resides in Atlanta, GA. She enjoys hiking, knitting and her noisy Tonkinese cat, Gary. She holds a BA from GSU & planning to attend PA school

Copyright © Janine Danielle Luongo for Vitality Factor 2017. All rights reserved.