I have decided that it is time to shake off the dust and move into a new state of being. I have been going to the gym pretty consistently for the past few years, but I really have not seem much change. I find that this also is a reflection of other areas in my life. The beautiful thing about this kind of realization is that once you recognize it in one area, you can see it in all areas. Even better is that when you begin to make changes in one area, those changes are felt through your time stream. Sometimes it might feel as if tho we are sitting in dirty bath water, we have to pull the plug, so that the water can drain. Getting active is an easy way to move yourself into a new state of being, thinking and living. I am not reccomending that you rush out and join a gym, it just means you need to be more mindful of where your body is in relation to your spirit.
The soul has unique and interesting ways of grabbing our attention, often times it will speak to us through the physical body. When we are in need of sleep, our eyes get blurry, when we are holding on to too much of our past or present our hands may hurt, and we might even feel dizzy or off balance when our lives are becoming overwhelming. The body also follows the mind. We can choose to be sick, or choose to live in health. We can choose for the day to be miserable or we can choose for the day to be full of joy. We create the world we live in. Embracing the physical body in a way that allows it growth is important.
A few days ago I went to a yoga double header at my gym. It was a powerful Hatha class followed by an equally powerful and dynamic Vinyasa class. By the time the 2.5 hours worth of yoga was complete I felt as if tho I had been hit by the yoga bus. My body ached, I was sweating, but I felt connected to every part of myself. When I was first learning yoga, I would do at least 3 hours a night, and for me this was meditation. Each posture brings with it deep connection to energies within the body, each asana moves with the breath, and sometimes just the simple act of breathing is a struggle. Shaking off the dust and getting our gym shoes on is in itself an affirmation. You are telling the physical body “I love you dearly, I am connecting and appreciating all parts of you, and today we will connect fully”.
Here are a few tips to get you moving:
1) Keep it simple. Getting active should not require a lot of thinking or working. Go for a walk, do push ups, log onto youtube and find some yoga videos to do. Do jumping jacks. The more excuses we place between the intention and action, the more likely we will not “Do” the thing we know we need to.
2) Listen to your body. If it needs rest, give it rest. If it needs nutrition, give it nutrition. If it needs a hug, get a hug.
3) Watch your nutrition. I am going to post a separate post on this, but the basics apply here. Each foods that are full of things that the body needs.
3) Make a plan and stick to it, but keep it flexible. If you plan on working out an hour, and arrive to the gym with only 20 min to spare.. make those the best 20 min possible. Show up to your experience, and jump in. If you decide to throw the 20 min away simply because it is not an hour, you are robbing yourself of 20 min of connection.
4) Set an intention. When we workout, it can sometimes feel like torture (I am a realist). If you dedicate your practice, your workout, your flow, your jog to flow to someone in need, or a cause you will gain greater motivation and drive to show up. Now its not just about you, and your action becomes one of service. You are sharing that energy, and that is a beautiful thing.
What are ways that you motivate yourself to work out? Leave your tips in the comment section below!
I am going to post workout routines, yoga videos, and nutriton informaiton in the next few posts. Until next time!
Namaste
Mahayogi Das
