Ah, the Monday after the New Year holiday... what will it bring?
The New Year brings a sense of renewal, a feeling of a fresh start and the opportunity to make plans for a brighter future. Many, many people start the new year with resolutions. They run with excitement and strong desire for their goals for the new year but, often have difficulty sticking with them past a few weeks. I want to help you make it stick!
Slow and Steady
Over the next few weeks, I will be offering you some tips and ideas to help you get yourself into your new routine. My goal is to assist you in a realistic, stick to it kind of manner. I believe that we are very much mind, body, spirit. When you get in touch with what you need to do and why you feel you need to do it, you'll be more likely to realize success. I could very easily give you a generic work out plan and tell you what days to do it; but I feel it would be much less valuable to you.
We're going to go with the slow and steady wins the race approach. As I mentioned in my video to you last week, my 2011 goal is to help you.
This week will be a prep week, a week of being gentle with your movement goals and having some fun. I'll be sending you movement activities that will build upon one another. Don't worry, we'll be getting into some more intense, and serious workouts as we progress in the coming weeks. For now, I want you to build a strong foundation, a deeper reason for sticking with your goals in the weeks and months to come.
Let's get started with Guilt Free Fitness!
Ease your way back into a routine.
If you haven't been active in a while and you have grand thoughts of getting on a consistent life changing routine, you must start today. However, I recommend that you approach this in a kind hearted way. Your best body will be the body that you are kind to - the one you listen to and take the time to get in touch with. Our bodies are amazing and will let us know when we are doing something that is good for ourselves as well as not so good.
Step 1: Time to Listen:
Take a moment every day this week to check in with your body. Close your eyes, quiet your mind, listen and feel what your body needs. Are your shoulders and neck tight from too much computer time? Maybe what you need is a soft shoulder roll and neck roll to release the tension. Is your lower back tight? What does it tell you? Perhaps you'll be motivated to do a roll down and touch the floor. Think “color outside the lines” here. There is no wrong in this creative process. Be kind and gentle to yourself and do what your body asks of you.
Step 2: Gentle Stretch Upon Waking:
Start each day with a gentle stretch. Upon waking, do a few things to get your body connected and prepared for the day. Be very easy and gentle, go slow and hold a stretch to allow the body to make the adjustment from sleeping. This can take anywhere from ten seconds to five minutes. Of course, I would recommend the latter! But, again, my purpose in this New Year is to get you to focus on what you CAN do, to be mindful that doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing. So, do what you can. But, do it. Monitor what you have time for and then increase it each day. If you started Monday with 30 seconds then increase to one minute on Tuesday. If you start with three minutes then shoot for five mins by the end of the week.
Keep a log:
A simple check list doesn't have to be fancy. I've even attached a simple table form that I created to help you with this. (If you are on my mailing list you've already received this. If not, just fill out the opt in box to the right and I'll send it to you immediately.)
Fill in the boxes down along the left column with tasks such as quiet time, and stretch. Fill in the dates for the week across the top row. Put a check mark in the box each day you complete a task. It's very easy and requires almost no time. But, it has a BIG impact when you can see what you've been able to do for yourself as the week progresses!
There you have it. Easy does it, guilt free, you can build a strong foundation of fitness! Keep an eye out for supporting video and activities!
I wish you a happy week!
Patty Rose
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Meaningful Movement
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