Exercise Should be Enjoyable
Exercise should be a routine opportunity to work physically and relax mentally. It should feel like play!
There’s a time and a place for hard work.
Some forms of exercise can certainly be grueling. In my experience, wrestling, distance trail running, and mountain biking can be especially intense, but there’s a reason for this. In each of those categories, I’ve had goals that drove me to push my limits. After becoming accustomed to pushing one's limits, the challenges set before you become enjoyable experiences. Additionally, after reaching a certain comfortability and experience level, a flow state is achievable even during strenuous activity. I realize that not many people reading this can appreciate a good overtime takedown in wrestling or pushing through a lactate threshold near the summit of a mountain. So let’s take it back a step.
Exercise doesn’t always have to be strenuous.
I would argue that doing strenuous exercise occasionally is very good for you, but moderate activity should be the bulk of your exercise regime. What’s included under that moderate umbrella? Any form of movement that causes you to breathe heavily, but not past the point of being unable to carry on a conversation (runners and personal trainers refer to that threshold when conducting a “talk test”).
Consistency is key.
The top athletes all say this. Our bodies are highly adaptive. This is a wonderful thing for those who are active, but a discouraging thing for those who are frequently sedentary. A sedentary lifestyle essential signals to one’s body that it doesn't need to have strong tissues (muscles, joints, bones), cardiorespiratory efficiency, blood sugar regulation, etc. That may sound a bit harsh, but it’s the truth. This is why it’s important to choose activities that you truly enjoy, so that they can be done consistently for the long haul.
Some fun exercise ideas:
Play with kids. It’s insane how much energy they have. I’ll always cherish my memories of playing sports with my dad as a child.
Walk, run, or just play with your dog. It’s good for them too!
Find a walking / running / hiking buddy and meet up with them regularly. Shout out to my friends Lucas and Robert for all of the miles we’ve travelled and the great conversations along the way.
Join a gym with group classes. I used to instruct a senior fitness class and we had a blast!
Dance. I’ll admit, I don’t dance. Both those who do seem to enjoy it!
Invite your friends together to play your favorite sports.
Go for a swim. There’s a lot of water around me in Cape Cod, but I miss the rivers and swimming holes of the Shenandoah National Park.
Try a cartwheel, handstand, or tripod. It’s all right to be child-like and see the world from another angle.
Be well,
Ethan
