YOU CAN DO IT!
No matter how little exercise you do, it’s better than none at all. Just stretching your muscles will create a better body and a healthier mind. You don’t have to go crazy and start something you never keep up. The secret is to do what is comfortable and do it once, twice or three times a week, whichever suits you. Some experts may not agree with me, but I’m a great believer in doing a little of something than none at all.
No, your bad back is not an excuse. On a personal note, I have fibromyalgia and a neck injury. My night sleep is broken due to pain and I really have to push my mind and body to do some exercise. It actually relieves the pain and I usually find my morning headache is reduced by taking a walk. The only equipment I have at home is an exercise or yoga mat for my floor work.
Where I urge you to do your exercises gracefully and with focus, I look more like an injured hippo as I try to get down on the floor. Getting up involves some rolling and a few press-ups. In my mind I’m a graceful gazelle prancing through a lush forest. On a more serious note, my consultant said I was doing the right thing by exercising. Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body and go with the flow. If fibromyalgia exhaustion decides to whack me, I know I can stop. Just one more step. That’s all it takes. One more step and you are going in the right direction. So, let’s go!
MOVE YOUR BUTT!
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Thump out your favourite music or hire an orchestra. Whatever floats your boat, as long as you float your bod. Treat your housework as a work-out. Get in the groove and hoover the floor and swing those hips as you do it. Wipe and swipe along the worktops with attitude. Squeeze the Jif – a one and a two and a three. Feel those arm muscles pop.
Get a personal trainer. Not too gorgeous or you won’t focus. Scratch that piece of advice. You need a gorgeous hunk of muscle-bound-bod to make you work it. You’ll hold your tummy muscles in tighter, stand tall and strong and exercise your eye muscles. This is the only candy you’re allowed this week.
Alternatively, you can do it yourself. Inhale, stretch and exhale. Inhale, stretch and exhale. A little goes a long way. Today is the beginning of a new regime, a new body, and a NEW YOU!
STRETCH YOUR BODY
What are you doing right now? Trawling Facebook? Checking your phone messages? Having a quick glimpse at this blog. Stop! Focus! Now keep reading this blog. Today is your day. Time to become a winner.
Stand up. Yes, I said – ‘stand up.’ NOW! Arms by your side, feet together and chin slightly raised. Now to the count of 10 move your arms slowly and gracefully above your head. Stretch each arm up. One, two, three, four and five. Feel the muscles stretch along your sides. Inhale. Pull your tummy in and relax. Exhale. Do this 3 times.
Move your arms down and from the waist slide them down along your upper legs until your fingers touch the side of your knees. Your body should be a perfect L shape. Count to 10 slowly. Now slide your hands down and grasp your calves. (Back of your lower legs not baby cows). Hold for a count of 10. Slide your hands down and grip your ankles. Count to 10 again. One more slide as you touch your toes. Hold and huff puff puff puff! Can you put your hands flat on the floor? Try it and hold for 20. Oh yeah! You got it, girl!
Gracefully and slowly move your arms up and straighten your back. Head slightly tilted back. A bit more. Now tilt it forward. Back to centre. Head straight. Move it slightly to the left and hold for 10. Now move it to the right and hold for 10 again. Slowly and gracefully do these neck stretches 3 times. Focus. Clench your bum muscles and pull your tummy in. Hold for a count of 10. Repeat 3 times. Release and relax. Don’t you feel amazing! Awake! Alive! Aligned!
STRETCH YOUR MIND
Do you enjoy reading? Physically holding a book in your hands, or do you prefer to surf the net? Time to stretch your mind and clear some cobwebs away. Join the library and check out a few books on positivity. Or you might prefer to buy them. Here are some recommendations.
Alternatively, you might prefer to check out some great articles online. Find what works for you, what excites you. No point in reading something and then not putting it into action. There is something for everyone and your mind is screaming out to be fed and nurtured. Nurture your mind. Stretch those mind muscles. Align the inner you.
MIND OVER MATTER
Meet the 80-Year-Old Bodybuilder – Ernestine Shepherd defies nearly every physical stereotype for an 80-year-old woman
Turn off the TV. You hard me. Turn off the TV. I don’t care if you are watching your favourite programme and it’s at a crucial part. TURN IT OFF! Now slowly place the remote control down on the table. Bend from the waist with this action. Count to 10. No!!! Don’t pick it up again. Skip, hop and jump to the centre of the room. Do 5 squats. Now do 5 lunges – with each leg. Do I have to spell it out? Time to belly dance. Pull in your tummy muscles and swivel those hips. On a slow count of 10 to the left and a slow count of ten to the right
Repeat. Hey, girlfriend, you’re good at this. Can you hear the music? Feel the rhythm? Oh, yeah!
MIND MAGIC
One of my favourite books is Mind Magic by Betty Shine. I practise her visualizations daily. I love the stroll the meadow, being aware of the sounds and scents around me and then lifting up into the blue skies in a parachute. Floating gently high up above the landscape. No stress. No worries. Let the gentle breeze take me where it will.
There are so many mind exercises or visualizations you can do. I visualize myself going into a calm beauty treatment room where I am pampered with a massage, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure. I inhale the aromatherapy oils and they add to my sense of wellbeing.
Start this week with nurturing your body and mind. Take time out to destress and spoil yourself – the inner you and the outer you. Get in balance. Enjoy every moment and heal thyself.
Recommended Positive Development Reading:
I have written two kindle books available on Amazon.
