Unconscious to Conscious Exercise
By consciously planning and focusing on the task at hand, we can greatly increase the benefits gained from our daily maintenance activities (unconsciously exercising). Follow these suggestions and you will never have to see the inside of a gym.
Time constraints will not be a factor when you follow this efficient plan for an active lifestyle. Find out how by reading on.
Thinking about fitness and talking about fitness are good first steps if they are followed up by action. Last week we talked about the benefits gained from unconsciously exercising (movements done while going about your daily activities). fitness@suite101.com.
Now that we’ve reached the understanding we are actually exercising by performing these movements, let’s build on that foundation. After all, most of us have walked to the car, cleaned the house or performed outside maintenance on or around our homes but never considered this exercise. Since we now know it counts toward improving our health and fitness, I’d like to make some suggestions to further enhance the benefits gained from these movements.
1.Thought process: tell yourself that as you perform these movements you are actually improving your health, be present in the moment, feel good about what you’re doing as you move thru your day. By focusing on each movement it will re-enforce your sense of self-enhancement both physically and mentally.
2. Schedule your chores: breakdown your weekly maintenance activities spending at least 30 minutes 5 times per week doing them. Since they are activities you already perform, spacing them out over a week’s time will ensure that you get 30 minutes of activity each day. You can however do move if you so desire.
3. Make each movement focused and deliberate: when doing chores or walking, focus on the movements of the body part(s) being used, this further enhances the benefits gained, as you are more likely to isolate the working muscle(s). Don’t make it too complicated just feel the muscle(s) as they contract and expand.
4. Track your movements: make a mental or physical note of your movements throughout the day. Keep track of your steps each day, either with a pedometer or glance at the time you start and finish a stroll across the parking lot or up a flight of stairs, it all adds up. You don’t have to do 30 minutes contiguously to benefit; if at the end of the day it adds up to 30 minutes it was a good day.
By replacing old ideas about exercising with this new found awareness, unconscious exercise, motivation won’t be a problem because you are doing things you always have while at the time improving your health, leading to a happier, fitter you.
"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." -Pogo-
