In your fast-paced work that idolizes busy-ness and overworking, it’s so important to protect your energy. This applies during your yoga practice and workouts, too!
Protecting your energy can help you stay balanced, focused, and motivated. When your fitness journey is enjoyable, not only can we get so much more from it, it’s also more sustainable. But what exactly does this mean, and what does it look like in your everyday applications?
INTENTION:
Setting an intention gives your practice a clear focus, and a purpose. It bridges the gap between your movements and your mind and transforms your practice and workouts into purposeful and nurturing experiences. Intention setting helps guide your actions and preserve a healthy mindset. If your intention is to build strength, you’ll be more mindful of engaging muscles and maintaining proper form. If your intention is really listening to your body, you’ll be more mindful about embracing modifications and listening to how your body feels during your movement. If your intention is to do your best, and know that your best is enough, you’ll not find yourself feeling frustrated or disappointed during or after your workout.
Examples of setting physical intentions might look like “I will move carefully, and prioritize muscle engagement and strength over speed and range of motion”, “I will focus on my breath, and move intentionally with it.”. Mental intentions might look like “I will approach the challenges with patience.” “I will stay present, and mindful, and remain focused on my breath and body” or even “I will be kind and compassionate with myself throughout this practice”.
SLOW DOWN AND LISTEN:
Your body gives you signals about what it needs. Paying attention to it prevents overexertion, and burnout. And sometimes even listening honestly will let you know that you have what it takes to push a little further.
If you can never tell whether it’s your motivation and mind telling you it’s time to stop or slow down instead of tuning in to your body, you’ll never be able to push past that edge and become stronger. If you never let yourself listen to your body telling you to slow down, you’ll always be limiting your results by overworking or even injuring yourself.
Giving yourself permission to show up exactly as you are, and moving in the way that will benefit your mind and body most, will result in you feeling better and better after each time you show up for yourself. This builds into more motivation, less intimidation, as well as heightened self-confidence.
THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT:
Whether that’s finding the right class or the right group of people to practice alongside, your surroundings greatly impact your energy levels as well as overall experience.
For example, when my kiddos were younger, I couldn’t just workout in the living room around the chaos, even though I saw many people happily working out or practicing yoga in equally busy, noisy homes. I would end up becoming far more frustrated at interruptions, and it really made the activities something I dreaded rather than embraced. I’d put it off more and more, no longer showing up for myself, losing strength and focus. For that reason, leaving the house, or going into a room without distractions or interruptions was an imperative part of me showing up for myself. Gyms and public classes became an important part of my wellness routines.
If you prefer to move mindfully at home, make sure you find a comfortable space supporting your personal needs. If turning on one of our workouts from our online video library in the middle of your living room works for you, embrace it! If you need to create a quieter, more comfortable space away from noises and distractions or interruptions, don’t feel guilty for that, either. You must show up for yourself in any way that you need.
POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS:
Change the “this is too hard” and the “I’m too tired”s into positive self-talk. “It’s okay to slow down. I’m going to make it through no matter what!” and “Whatever I do right now is enough” “I’ll make this workout what I need today, and no matter what I’m moving instead of sitting still!”
Because no matter what you do, every time you show up for yourself you ARE doing enough.
CONSISTENCY:
Sometimes the hardest part of a wellness practice is showing up over and over and over again. Consistency builds resilience as well as familiarity. The more we do something regularly that we don’t always enjoy, but know is good for us, the stronger we get. One, your mind grows stronger with the proof that you CAN do hard things, and two, your body grows stronger and the hard things start to eventually feel a little less hard.
Create a regular, weekly schedule. Don’t cancel on your classes or your you-time any more than you would cancel any other important meetings or appointments. Show up even when you don’t feel strong, and even if you don’t have 100%, you’ve done your best - and that’s always enough.
Remember, a balanced life is about finding what works best for YOU, and honoring YOUR unique needs.
Don’t forget: you’ve always been, and will always be enough.
Kimbrena
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