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The simple way to get fit: Just Move!

July 10, 2018
The simple way to get fit Just Move

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Getting a good workout doesn’t have to be a lot of work. In fact, getting fit can be fun. Those who enjoy moving their bodies know this to be true. Whether it’s through dancing around the house, taking a walk to the store or cafe, playing with a pet, or even doing the work of cleaning, they always seem to be in motion.

Sometimes, however, it can be hard to find the energy to move. The inertia of being tired, uncomfortable, or discouraged can make it difficult to get started. In case that you’re stuck being stuck, there are two ways you can change. One is by changing your mind, the other is by changing your movement. Which one is better? I’ll let you decide for yourself.

Option 1: Move, Don’t Think

For many people, this is the recommended option. Don’t waste time thinking about whether you’re ready to try something new… Just get moving! There are a number of benefits to this approach. For one, you’re less likely to waste time going back and forth about the 'right' way to start when any action will be better than none. Secondly, instead of analyzing in your head what it will take to achieve your goals, you’ll be gaining actual experience, which usually provides the most valuable information and insight. Thirdly, you learn to ‘trust your gut’ and develop a bold and optimistic outlook on life.

The drawbacks to this approach, as much as there are any, usually apply when something is ENTIRELY new to you. If you know absolutely nothing about exercise, for example, then it may be better not to go full force into any old workout. But even if this is the case, you can still "get moving" by being curious. Read and research about your topic, or look it up on YouTube. Go talk to people who have some experience. But don't let this 'learning' stage remain purely intellectual. Move your body. Train your brain to connect inspiration with action, rather than letting the energy from good ideas fade away.

Option 2: Change the way you Think about Moving (and Get Moving)

Ok, so maybe you know you should change but it's really hard to feel like doing something new. Maybe even dipping your toes into the water seems scary. In this case, you’re going to have to work on your mind first, without the benefit of a new experience. Luckily, you’re here reading this blog and others like it, helping you to get ready.

Do you believe that your actions make a difference in your life? Using exercise as an example, do you think it will change the way you feel? Believe in the power of your actions. There are lots of motivational videos and articles online.You can check out this TED talk about exercise and the brain if you want to get a taste of what exercise can do for you. Now that you’re on board with the idea that exercise is good for you, let’s look at why you still might be hesitating to get started.

“I’m out of shape.”

Ah, yes. Similar to the “I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible” conundrum. That’s why you do it! Yes, it’s nice to be good at things, but don’t let being out of shape stop you from getting started! Most teachers and trainers understand that it’s tough in the beginning and will help you start at a level that’s doable for you. And if you get the sense that you’re overdoing it, have the confidence to back off a little until you know you’re able to handle it. Either way, you’ll have gotten the ball rolling.

“I might hurt myself.”

Related but not exactly the same as “I’m out of shape.” Again, do your research and ask for help getting started. Also- go in with as relaxed a mindset as you can muster. Allow yourself to feel awkward and incapable, even embarrassed, but resist the temptation to compensate by trying to blast through a workout that you’ll never want to do again. Try to stay at about 70% of your maximum effort. If you’re not sure what that means, 70% is when your heart rate has risen, you’re probably sweating and breathing deeper but you could carry on a conversation during the exercise.

“It will hurt.”

Related but very different from “I might hurt myself.” At times, it WILL hurt! Feel the burn, as they say. This is where your mind can really learn to help you instead of hold you back. As long as you stick to the 70% rule and keep from letting your mind get overexcited, you’ll be able to avoid injury. In this case, you’ll be learning the difference between “good pain” and “bad pain” (there is a difference!). Good pain is the feeling that comes when your body is being challenged to use more energy than it has lately.  Strength, flexibility, circulation, and peace of mind all result from this good pain. Bad pain is your body telling you that damage is being done or that it’s not ready to handle what you’re trying to do. Knowing the difference can be difficult at first, but will become clear quickly. It’s important to note- there is no way to really know the difference between good pain and bad pain without moving!

Last but not least we’ll get into the philosophy of the body. This might be the most helpful piece of information to get you up and moving. Or, it might not mean much now, but later it will come back to you. If you want to get fit, you should keep in mind that you are not your body. As we say in at Body & Brain Centers, “my body is not me, it is mine.”

Many people ‘identify’ with their bodies, either with the physical sensations motivating and discouraging their actions (pleasure and pain) or with their body images. Identifying with the body, as if my body is me and I am my body, can provide a certain kind of motivation. But ultimately, when we identify with the body it becomes hard not to be controlled, either by what the body wants or by what the body looks and feels like. In reality, a healthy body does not always look like the image we see in magazines, and a healthy body does not always feel perfectly comfortable. It can have aches and pains or get tired and even sick sometimes.

If you want to have a great relationship with your body, try observing your body as your much-loved pet. Like a pet, your body has instincts and desires to manage, and it requires responsible guidance to keep it healthy. If you rely on your pet tell you exactly how to care for it, you will likely end up with an unruly (and unhealthy) pet. The same is true for your body. And yet, the opposite is also true. We do need to listen to and respect the feelings of the body (or pet). If you try to train your pet with constant punishment (negative reinforcement), you most likely will end up with an unhappy pet who just wants to get away from you. The same is true for your body. There is a natural balance in caring for the body, one that involves training and recuperation, sticking to rules as well as having compassion.

One of the best ways that I’ve heard this balance described is by teacher and author Ilchi Lee, who says that we need to learn how to ‘play well’ with our bodies. Just as children and pets need playtime to grow with health and happiness, our bodies also need to play. Despite all the medical advances in recent years, the body is still not a machine that can be used and repaired piece by piece. It has a natural living system which we need to respect and support.

Let your exercise routine be a time to ‘play well’ with your body, to get to know its strengths and weaknesses, to sense what it wants and what it needs, and even to get to know the self that is using this body. If you apply this mindset to your exercise routine, you’ll be more likely to create a habit that is fun, effective and sustainable for as long as you want to live.

Written by David Driscoll
David Driscoll has been teaching Body & Brain and Brain Education for over 14 years. He is currently managing Body & Brain’s YouTube channel, BNBTV, as well as hosting Brain Masterz- A User’s Manual for the Brain- along with Minjae Kim. David studied anthropology at Princeton University and enjoys tai chi and meditation as well as traveling, studying languages, and golf.