Enjoy "Smooth Riding" Fitness Journey.
By Cathy Sloan
I don't know if it's just human nature in general, or something
we learn along the way. When I talk to people about their desire to
"get fit" there's a common thread. Excuses, um I mean reasons, why
they just can't do it right now.
Probably the number one excuse - yes, excuse, is time, followed
closely by money. Now that I think about it, those are two darn good
reasons for not doing almost anything! Oh, if I only had unlimited
time and money I would be able to do so much.
It's not like those words never escaped my mouth! I made sure I
had time to watch my favorite TV shows. I certainly had time to take
breaks at work for all those Frappicinos. If I took the time to get
fit, how would I ever have time to do everything else? I'm not
saying time is not a valuable and precious commodity - it is!
Now the question is: how much "time" does it take to get, and
stay, fit? I guess it would depend on what your definition of fit
is. And, what your goals are. A better question might be "how
important is your health and well-being?" Maybe your goal is to drop
a few pounds, or to be more toned, or just to feel healthier and
more energized.
Chances are, it’s more than one of these things. Whatever the
goal, there is no short-term quick fix. It’s a life-long journey.
The thing is, when you drop extra weight, eat better and exercise,
all of your time is more enjoyable. And, you have more energy for
everything else in your life.
Joseph Pilates illustrated this very well in his book, Return to
Life Through Contrology. Very loosely translated, he described
taking a long trip in a car that is not well-maintained. The car is
sluggish, and breaks down constantly during the trip. As a result,
the trip itself is not at all enjoyable. And, once the driver and
passengers reach their destination, they are tired and not feeling
great. On the other hand, that same trip in a well-maintained car,
would be much more enjoyable. The actual journey would be a pleasant
experience. When the driver and passengers arrive reach their
destination, they are refreshed and feeling good.
I love that story. I think we would all rather travel in a
smooth- riding, well-maintained car, rather than a clunker that
can’t be depended on. If you think of your body as that car, what
category
does your body fit it? Is it a clunker that’s not maintained
well?
Is it a smooth-running, well-maintained sports car? Or, is it
somewhere in between? Wherever you fit, routine maintenance is key
to any good running machine.
The hardest part is probably just getting started, and finding
something you like. This is the case whether you’re looking at
finding a new way to eat or deciding on an exercise routine. So, how
do you take that first step? Once you decide, and make a commitment,
to make changes, you will be ready to find the path for your Fitness
Journey. What will it take for you to make that commitment?
Cathy Sloan is a local instructor and can be reached at
cathy@worldclassworkout.com.
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