When it comes to receiving amazing results in our bodies and in our lives there is one factor you can count on to bring you success. Without this one factor in place, you will go round-and-round and up-and-down struggling with falling short of where you want to be and how you want to feel.
However, with this one factor in place, you will maximize your potential, turn aches and pains into freedom, have more energy, enjoy a more intimate connection to yourself, and feel really good about you!
These are AMAZING benefits offered by putting just one thing into place, right?! Today I am going to share with you my personal secrets at how I stay CONSISTENT in showing up for my practices and why this is key to your success too.
Dangers Of A Sedentary Lifestyle
Lets face it. Some days we just don’t feel like working out or rolling out our mats, and some days we are really, really busy. But, time and time again these “excuses” become habit and our bodies pay the price of a sedentary and stressed out lifestyle. When this happens, this is what you can count on:
- low energy
- aches and pains, sometimes unbearable
- big belly
- low metabolism
- higher risk of injury
- higher risk of disease
- higher percent of body fat
- weak muscular strength
- low endurance
Benefits Of Consistent Yoga And Fitness Practices
Ok, so I could go on and on, but this is real. But guess what! When we show up CONSISTENTLY for ourselves with our yoga and fitness practices, and by consistent I mean 5 days a week, you will:
- turn aches and pains into freedom
- feel more energized and alive
- boost your metabolism
- reduce the risk of injury
- increase your vitality
- maximize your body’s potential
And again I could go on and on.
But before you say “I just don’t like working out” or “5 days a week! I don’t have time for that!” Let me share with you my secrets at how I make this work.
Tips On How To Stay Committed To Your Exercise Program
1. Make it fun!!!
Here are some ways I keep it light and F-U-N
- wear a sequin headband
- put on your favorite music
- start with your favorite exercises, dance moves. This will get you started and that is the hardest step!
- be silly, get creative, be playful!
In other words, don’t make it SO SERIOUS, such a chore, something on your to-do list. Make it FUN!
I actually have to tell myself that I can’t workout until I get certain chores done in the day, and my workout is my reward. Did that yesterday with taxes. Yes, it is a reward and it is a gift we give our bodies, minds and whole being.
Here is a great example of one of the ways I keep it fun, light and EFFECTIVE! Try this exercise (headband optional) in a Tabata Protocol and let me know how you feel:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/f5ivDp0Vh2A[/youtube]
2. Commit To Practicing For Just 10 Minutes Every Day!
It is true that we will not always have 60-90 minutes each day to workout or practice yoga. BUT, you can surely carve out 10-15 minutes each day. Especially when the benefits are so profound!
Personally, by committing to just 10 minutes I show up at least 5 days a week on my mat. Sometimes this 10 minutes turns into 15, sometimes even 75 minutes. But 10 is what I commit to and even with just 10 minutes my energy shifts, my body responds by feeling so much better, and I have created a pattern of CONSISTENCY. So guess what? When I don’t show up I feel off and I crave that 10 minutes!
I use to believe I had to have 60-90 minutes to practice. And as you can imagine, this kept me from practicing daily because I just don’t have that kind of time being a mom and then some.
When you create the pattern of working out and practicing your yoga, you have created a habit. A really healthy habit! Give it a try. This one is sneaky and bad a*$.
Will 10 minutes a day design you the body of your dreams? Probably not. But it will start you on a healthy habit and if spent strategically will improve your overall well being and ease aches and pains in your body. I consider this an amazing investment on 10 minutes daily.
3. Remember Why You Are Rolling Out Your Mat, Your Biggest Why!
If you reason is you want to lose weight or because you don’t like how your body looks it may bring you to your mat for a little bit, but these are depressing reasons and they will not ENCOURAGE you to get to your mat with the attitude you probably really want to cultivate. However, the encouragement of knowing that my energy positively shifts and my vitality increases with each practice motivates me and has me showing up with a more open heart.
Knowing that I have the choice to love on my body and appreciate all it does for me and gift it with my time, attention and breath is also very inviting for me. Because I know the flip side, practicing because I “should” or because it will burn calories and help me burn off dinner, I know how this perspective actually created disconnect from me and my precious body. It isn’t fun, it makes showing up a chore.
The WHY, or the intention that you bring to your practice is a huge part of what your practice will look like and feel like. What is your biggest, deepest why? May it fuel you with consistent encouragement, joy, gratitude and desire to love on your body and life endlessly.
I love gifting my body for all it does for me. I love learning more about my being with each practice. I love stretching my potential and the youthful spirit my practices gift me back with also.
I truly hope these 3 tried-and-proven strategies that I have personally had so much success with help you in being consistent in your practices too. Here’s to your success in all areas of your life.
Yoga & Fitness Vacation On Kauai
If you are looking for a playful vacation that will inspire your practices and your life, check out my yoga and fitness retreat here on Kauai this July! Register now.