I’ve often wondered how people choose a form of exercise. Are they reminiscing, wishing to recapture their glory days? Perhaps they ran in high school. Maybe they played college and/or pro ball. Maybe it was 2am, and that term paper with annotated bibliography was beginning to ramble. And those size “small” yoga pants? They have somehow morphed into a size XXL. Taking a much overdue break, they only thing on is infomercials. Infomercials promising to take you from your double XL, back into a REAL size small. You get the idea. There’s only one problem. Well more than one.
NOT EVERY EXERCISE IS FOR EVERYBODY
I like variety. Variety in my workout routine is tantamount. Running though, is where I find my way back. The furthest I’ve ever ran is 10 miles. I’ll remember that day as long as I live. When I’d finished, a little voice told me “this is the furthest you’ll ever go.” It turned out to be right. Fast forward a bit, and I found myself picking up weight because I wasn’t running as much as I once did. So enter in a plethora of workouts from INSANITY, to ballet inspired exercises, to PILATES w/bands, hot yoga, etc. You name it, I did it. And it WORKED. I found myself with better muscle tone than running ever gave me. But somewhere down the line, something else happened–a bulging lumbar disc. And sciatic flares which range from tingling, to burning, to numbing down the length of my right leg; often reaching my 2nd toe. They are at their most aggravating about a week to 10 days before my menses. So what does that mean to my workouts? More to the point, what does it mean to me?
NO EXCUSES
Many of us deal with issues ranging from bulging discs to knee issues, to ankle problems, etc. But what I’ve found, is that these declarations won’t emancipate us from what needs to be done. Whether it’s tennis elbow or cardiac rehab from an MI, results don’t come from declarations of ” I have this or that..” They come from doing. That being said, doing just any form of exercise is not the way. I can attest to that. So what is?
FUNCTION, FORM, and that nasty little N-word–NUTRITION. There, I said it.
STARTING AT THE END
When I begin MY PROGRAM with a client, is doesn’t start with exercise. Anyone at any time can You-Tube myriads of exercise routines. Fitness trackers abound which help you track your steps, tell you if you’ve been sitting too long, or when to move. Diet plans are not in short supply either. Everyone has his or her own pet project or advice on what works, what doesn’t, while promising this is the “last diet you’ll ever need.” They may be right; but chances are, they’re wrong. Why? Simple–they don’t have YOUR BODY. You have your body. The responsibility is squarely on your shoulders to seek out what works and what doesn’t, and what probably never will. So this is where I begin–when those who come to me, are at their end. But more to the point, I begin with intake; an inventory of what THEY ARE IN TAKING.
Is there more to it than that? Yes there is. So stay tuned..
All for now. Keep up and keep at it.
Questions? Comments? Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com
LIFE TRAINING WITH CRYSTAL 