I have lately observed that there are certain times when my exercise rhythm is off or non-existent, and when I get so caught up in the ‘busyness’ of my day and the many things that I feel I’m responsible for or that need completing (ie. work, family etc.), that my exercise routine seems to be one of the first things that gets neglected.
I noticed that the busier I was, the more I was neglecting my exercise rhythm and routine… and the longer the gaps were between exercising. To add to this, I was also feeling more tired – which seemed to exacerbate the desire to even do any exercise in the first place, even if I did have time!
I was recently offered the opportunity to join a 4 week online exercise program offered by Danielle Pirera (Re-Connect Exercise), and even though I’ve enjoyed attending these classes in the past, my first response was “I haven’t got time!” There was no pressure to commit either way, however I was presented with the possibility that the exercise classes would actually be an opportunity to support me with everything else I was doing. I could feel that deep down this was absolutely true and that neglecting my exercise rhythm was neither feeling right nor supporting me in my day, so it became an easy choice to join the online program and make a specific commitment to completing one 45 min exercise group class each week.
What I have found most supportive is that the exercise program is presented in a way that encourages connection with my body – feeling how I want to exercise on each particular day – which I’ve found varies from week to week.
The exercise program has not been about doing the exercises a certain way, at a certain pace or level of intensity or how many reps or even doing the exercise the same way as Danielle, the presenter. In fact I’ve felt encouraged to simply feel my body moving, and to feel what’s right in every exercise. Led by example, the focus has not been on the technique of the exercise, but simply staying connected to my body and the quality of the movements.
In this, I’m learning more and more that exercise is not about what I do or how many or for how long, but ‘how’ I do it. And the other thing I’m learning is to not make my exercise routine so serious (!) …. to keep it light and playful.
With each exercise group I’ve felt how important it is to do what feels right for me in that particular session. By being encouraged to focus on this and committing to the exercise group every week, I’ve also found that my exercise rhythm outside of the classes is much more accessible and realistic. For example, if I had felt pressured or an expectation that I had to do ½ hour’s exercise every day, I would probably consider skipping exercise altogether! However for me, committing to 10-15 minutes, 2 times a week is something that is manageable and a great place for me to start.
This has also helped me realise that it’s the commitment and connection to myself that’s important as the foundation for exercise, not necessarily the amount of time spent.
I have found these exercise groups provide a true inspiration of a connected way of exercising, supported by the fact that they are taught by example. For example, it’s not uncommon for Danielle to express that her body feels a bit stiff and sore on that particular day and that she is going to move a little slower or not stretch so high, while at the same time providing support and suggestions for others to move faster or make their movements larger if that’s what they feel in their body.
In moments like these, I am being offered the opportunity and inspiration to honour my own body in exactly the same way, whether it’s to take the exercise more gently or increase to an intensity I feel is right for me. Exercising this way is a totally different way of exercising than I have ever experienced before. To have a fitness trainer teach and present this way – in a way that honours her own body – is not only unheard of, but is deeply inspiring as a true way to exercise.
I am still establishing the depth of the connection with my body, but am now starting to feel more of a quality and presence in my exercise routine and exercise rhythm.
With each exercise class I am learning how important it is to honour what I feel in my body, and not to exercise according to a set structure, technique or time frame or with an outcome of achieving a set result.
As I commit to my exercise rhythm I am experiencing more and more how this supports me in all of the other things I need to do in a day. I have more energy and am feeling less tired, supported by my exercise routine that is teaching me to connect to my body and be more present with Me.
By Angela Perin, aged 48, Brisbane
608 Comments
Some massive big changes have happened in my life recently and I know I have kept steady, strong and lighthearted because I have certain foundations in place – one of them is exercise.
“What I have found most supportive is that the exercise program is presented in a way that encourages connection with my body – feeling how I want to exercise on each particular day – which I’ve found varies from week to week.” So supportive to reread your blog Angela, as my exercise routine has faded whilst I’ve been travelling for a while.
The amount of clarity, focus, energy and purpose i feel from exercising is soo worth it.
My body is loving exercise, I can feel how so very supportive it is for me.
After committing for sometime to a short exercise program I feel ready to take it to the next step – always upping my game – not pushing too hard.
I’m finding that when I exercise before I start my working day I feel even more ready to deal with the day ahead, more energised, more awake and more positive.
When I make the time to exercise my relationship with myself changes for the better. I find that there is more space in my day and I get less anxious or racy.
I joined the gym last year and would be a regular visitor. Then I got busy and noticed my attendance, energy and willingness to return falter. I’ve started going again and it feels amazing to do so. For me now it’s about appreciating how it feels when I do do it to keep the consistency.
Absolutely Angela, when working out with a focus on our connection makes the rest of life more vital and allows a focus to come in to stay in the connection that we have developed during our exercises.
An exercise class that focuses on the quality of the movement is an inspiration to be aware of the quality of every movement.
Committing to an exercise regular basis, supports me to be more present and commited to life. My body feels its activation and responds generously with more flexibility, joy and willingness in the development of my daily activities. As I’m more connected to my body, I can notice clearer about its limits and being more caring with it. It’s really nurturing to have a loving exercise routine..
Honouring what we feel in our bodies and ditching the pictures about how exercise should look is revealing and very freeing. It supports me to be more committed to exercise for me but I am still shocked about how my commitment can waver when I allow myself to get taken over with thinking that other things are more important despite knowing that exercise supports me in everything else that I am doing in my day.
Building a regular exercise rhythm is such a simple and practical thing that supports us in so many areas: better connection with our body = better connection to ourselves, what and how we feel, and better able to deal with, accept and embrace everything in life that comes towards us.
Whats been amazing to note is that ‘regular’ does not determine the length or intensity of the exercise. From experience regular gentle exercise is more supportive than regular crushing exercise.
The thing I love about exercise is it really helps me focus, I’ve been experimenting a lot recently with it and tend to exercise just before bed (it’s the only free time), even when I’m tired it refocuses and re-energises me ready for the next day. Plus I love the feeling of my body building and becoming stronger.
For me it is pretty simple to keep up a rhythm going to the gym, because fitness is one of the key things that helps me to get more connected to my body, which makes me feel yummy and confident. On the prerequisite that I don’t indulge in the TV’s and the music which are everywhere.
Having recently re-committed to the gym, I’m already feeling the benefits – more connected to my body, more ‘in’ and ‘with’ my body instead of off in my head day-dreaming. This has led to feeling more present with myself and others – more open and confident, and more aware of how I’m feeling, moment to moment. I find myself better able to make decisions because I can feel more acutely the exactness of what to do and when/how to do it, instead of relying on the pre-programmed ‘should dos’.
This Is lovely to read Bryony, and I am sure is connected to how you are when you exercise, being connected with your body, honouring yourself, and the quality with which you exercise in.
Yes, it is the commitment and connection to self that is important, along with feeling and honouring our body all the time, ‘In fact I’ve felt encouraged to simply feel my body moving, and to feel what’s right in every exercise. Led by example, the focus has not been on the technique of the exercise, but simply staying connected to my body and the quality of the movements.’
Rhythm is everything, and when we feel the rhythm in our movements and when we do our movements, our lifestyles flow in a different way
Excercise and self care are the quickest things to drop when I get busy- the thoughts of ‘I don’t have time for this!’ flood in as I work harder and faster to keep up. But what’s been shown to me lately, repeatedly by my own body, is that this disregarding way of working is impossible to sustain. I get tired and cranky and end up doing less work than before because I’m reacting so much to how terrible I feel! So basic self care has to still be part of my day, moment to moment, not defined by any picture of what this looks like but simply feeling what’s needed at any moment, and listening to that.
I love coming back to this blog as it offers us a very real reminder that; without the vitality and well-being of our body and a loving connection to our body, it is not possible to be part of life with the fullness of who we are as such to be able to bring our all with quality presence to all we do.
it is so different when we listen to our body, and then respond, and then exercise rather than to feel the effects of just going with what we think we should do.
Yes when we allow the body to lead the way then we let go of having a goal that we have to achieve.
It really is extraordinary how we can neglect that which we know supports us so deeply
It is interesting the resistance we can feel to things that truly support us. When we are going for something that is comfort seeking nothing will get in our way, yet when we go for that which nurtures or builds us there can at times be many reasons that limit us from going there.
” however I was presented with the possibility that the exercise classes would actually be an opportunity to support me with everything else I was doing. ”
I have fond this to be true that excise is required by the body to maintain gentleness , suppleness and harmonious flow in the body which supports everyday activity.
Keeping my exercise light and playful has certainly supported me in all sorts of ways, and certainly makes the prospect of it less daunting and more inspirational.
This morning I was feeling how tight and ‘wound up’ my body was and so I started to do some stretches and it provided an amazing way to feel more energy and release blockages and areas of stagnation in my body.
You refer to Danielle as a presenter and not an instructor and this says it all to me as it removes the imposition of being told what to do and places the responsibility with the one receiving the presentation.
What a gorgeous difference to connect to the body during exercise. I have always been taught to focus on something else and push through the session. It was about how long and hard we exercised not how our bodies felt. What a joy to explore how this can feel in a loving way that does not push our bodies but actually supports them.
This is a great point HM, for it’s true that we generally are taught to be focused on the outcome when we exercise – the body we ‘want’ to have or look like. With this we totally negate our connection our body and the joy it is to feel the delicious sexiness when we move with this connection.
Exercising in connection with our body is a form of medicine which is not only supportive to our body but also to our well-being.
I love doing my stretches and exercises in the morning, it is a bit of me time where I can connect to my body and see how I am really feeling. It is a great way to start the day and over time it has supported me in doing longer hours at work and not getting tired. It is now so much part of my day and rhythm that it feels like something is missing if I don’t start my day by doing my gentle stretches.
I know that when I exercise with my body it loves the movement. However I still let the routine drop off the planet if I neglect myself in either areas of life. For example I become tired from not expressing how I feel at work, hit the snooze button, no time to exercise as I rush to get ready for work. It makes it harder the next morning to recommit. Even if I did do 10-15 minutes twice a week rather than expecting and pushing myself to do it every day I know my body would love to move.