Back2Yourself

Maybe you’ve been exercising for a little while. And maybe you notice feel better. But exercise may still feel inconvenient and forced and you may wonder how long you have to keep doing it. It is difficult for some of us to imagine exercise as part of our daily life for the rest of our life.

Choosing to include exercise as part of your daily life is the same as choosing to work towards feeling good. If you stop exercising, you may notice that you don't feel as well, but you may not notice this immediately. Eventually, the aches and pains will return, or begin to visit as you age. You may not feel as energetic. It is easy to overlook the connection between how you feel and not exercising, but often there is a very strong connection.

Ideally, you will include exercise as part of your daily routine (or a few times per week). It is amazing how a little exercise can benefit you tremendously. Once exercise is part of your regular daily life, you won't feel right without it. It not only makes you feel better physically but you may notice that it makes you feel better emotionally.

If I could wave my magic wand, I would wish for you to include some form of exercise as part of you regular life for the rest of your life, and that it is a part of your day that you look forward to and enjoy! As we age, our exercise routine may change to meet our changing bodies. Seeing elderly practicing chair yoga is an inspiration to me that I will continue to practice yoga even after I lose the strength or balance to stand.

I encourage you to stay with the exercise program for a few more months. Challenge yourself to stay with it, even if you don't feel like it. Regular movement and strengthening will help you feel stronger and spryer, more vibrant. Spryness and vibrancy helps you feel more willingness, even enthusiasm, to do things that you may have avoided before. Feeling stronger helps you face both physical and emotional challenges. If you continue to exercise for an extended period of time, I suspect you will not only be pain-free but you will feel much better overall, in ways that are difficult to describe and you will want to continue exercising, you will look forward to it .