Boot Camp, Yoga, Meditation? How Do You Get Fit?

This is the time of year when, even thought completely covered most of the time, we begin to put some thought into our bodies. And for most of us this is from a more aesthetic point of view, than health conscious.

The holidays are long gone, but our eating and exercise habits may be stuck in the same old rut. And with that brings thicker middles, sagging (ahem) areas, and an overall lack of energy. An annual dilemma. What to do?

There are many schools of thought on the subject of fitness. But let’s concentrate on just a couple of them here. Mainly, Western-ized fitness regimes and Ayurvedic thought on fitness.

Our country is full of fitness fanatics. Sure, we may be one of the fattest nations on earth, but we are obsessed with working out. And our Type A-ness has turned it in to something it may need not be. We get up before the crack of dawn to do crazy things to ourselves in the name of fitness, often leaving us more stressed out and exhausted than before. This by no means applies to everyone, but tell me you have not talked to a friend or two burnt out from working, mothering, running a household, AND getting up at 5:00 every morning to jog or go to the gym. Let’s face it; her day would be much easier if she could sleep until 6:30 or 7:00. Working out and being physically fit does make you feel great, but only if it is not coming at the expense of your overall wellbeing.

Next, let’s take a look at the Ayurvedic approach to exercise. Monica Bloom of HeyMonicaB!.com has come out with a new online talk show. It is on Tuesday nights at 6pm PST/9pm EST and she covers different areas of Ayurveda each week in her unique, fun and lively way.

Well, this week Monica’s show was on … yep, exercise. I love it when the starts align like that! After much research on which new fitness program I was going to try next (the old thrice weekly run and weight lifting are no longer cutting it) I happened to tune in to Monica’s show (they are recorded so you can listen to them whenever you want). As much as I love and believe in Ayurveda, I was skeptical. I have tried yoga, and while I really like it and still practice it, know that it alone will not keep me in great shape. You have to do the cardio – a hard pill to choke down, but true.

Monica went on to say that while yoga is a truly beneficial practice for almost everyone, you do need to walk, run, swim. Whatever cardio is best for YOU. And that is the Ayurvedic approach to exercise. Do what feels right for you. If you have taken up running and are icing your knees each time, it may not be for you. Maybe you should try swimming instead. And there are those of us who simply need a good run regularly. For our bodies and our minds. It is all about choosing what feels good for you, not what works for your neighbor or best friend or favorite movie star.

So, how much cardio? Experts say we all need to clock 30 minutes of cardio each day. Many people freak out when they hear this. But really, this is one half hour of each day. And since many of us are very sedentary at our jobs, this is not that big a deal. The fact that most of us think it is is probably why we are such an obese country.

Cardio used to be a no-brainer. As children we would run, jump, tumble daily. Now we are busy driving to and from activities or peeling our kids away from the TV. My daughter is taking a tumbling class and so badly wants to learn how to do a cartwheel. As I was driving away from the class this week I thought to myself “When did I learn to do a cartwheel?” And you know what, I can’t remember. I am sure this is because I just figured it out in the many hours upon hours of time that I spent outdoors in the grass as a kid.

It is sad that we are so scheduled and not as free as we were years ago. But hey, if we have to get our kids on the treadmill or turn on a Justin Bieber cd and dance with them to get their 30+ minutes a day, let’s do it. We may not be able to set them free as often due to stranger-danger or more homework and activities, but that is no excuse to not get physical.

One more point I would like to consider is the Law of Attraction. Don’t click away, just here me out. A friend of mine recently told me how she had started to visualize her stomach as flat each night at bedtime. After a few weeks she reported her stomach actually WAS flatter and she even bought a pair of jeans two sizes smaller than what she had been wearing. Can you think yourself fit? Obviously, you must take certain actions toward getting in better shape. But thinking of yourself as already fit will plant the seed to those actions. My friend said she ate healthier and smaller portions once she started thinking herself thin. Definitely something to consider.

What is your fitness program of choice? Do you love it? Hate it? Feel like trying something new?

Image: Jef Harris at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.