BenchFit Lotus: Creating Fitness with Joy

Create Fitness with Joy.

Register a “gratitude list” for your body, soul and health.Give thanks for all your body parts, and if “judgement” enters your thoughts, just let it come and go, like a butterfly passing.It is remarkable to meditate upon thankfulness for toes and feet, and knees and hips that move us where we want to go. (My Physical Therapy work places me with those with challenges, some in wheelchairs, or needing other forms of help. Don’t take walking and moving for granted, nor the ability to “feel” from head to toe!)You may sit with your eyes closed as you process through the gratitude list, and if you can feel some sunshine on you as you do this that is great. Or if indoors, face the direction of the sun.

Visualize yourself enjoying moving, with dance, or walking in a garden, or warming your muscles with weight lifting if you choose too.See yourself with a strong heart and full breath, and embrace that vision. Create a color for your workout, perhaps blue for water, green for hiking, or orange for fire and energy. Reflect on the color you choose.Is your workout in black and white? Choose a color, or a few, for different workout moods you may want to create.

 

Outdoor Fitness

My family loves the kayaks that are “sit upons” for the ease of gliding along on a calm lake. The sparkle of the sun on the purple-blue-silver waves is a delight to the eyes. The pine scented mountain air, and the chance to play with the winds push or pull along the excursion, make for a “all senses engaged” workout, with rest and relaxation when arms tire.

This is a blue and green workout. It can have 5 sensory stars; *touch-feel,the kayak rocking along the water, the tension in the arms and trunk as you paddle.  *sight,the lake and trees and sky   *sound:loons!   *scent:water and pine      *flavor:the lake water has a mineral-rich, clean flavor.  (Sometimes I chew on pine needles-just one!).

The water lilies are found during the kayak, and they may be few, or ample, with closed tight buds on a cool overcast day, or open and bobbing in the waves and suns warmth.It is winter now, New Years Eve,as I write this summer infused post. Our fitness seasons can be under ice for a while, like the water lilies currently frozen under the northern ice.Or closed buds, waiting for the sunrise.

The lotus has so many petals, and we have so many paths we can take. Author Saundra Pelletier writes in her book “Saddle up your own White Horse” that we can be Victims, Flatliners, or Deliberate Creators, in life. Create your workout, with color, sensory engagement and joy. 

My hands and feet are cold from sitting stagnant while typing; I will now go make a fire and lift weights as I watch the flames; this will be an orange-red workout.

Let me hear from you; are you a current flatliner, or creator? What color is your workout? How many senses do you engage for your fitness?

Power On!

Maureen

www.BenchFit.com