Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Finding my Joy (and Balance)....Again

I have great ideas.  I am always thinking about how I am going to get in shape, lose weight, get off my diabetes meds, have muscles.  It never happens.  I can't get off the couch.  I have spent a great deal of time trying to figure out why.

I set up these elaborate plans of doing my weightlifting Tuesday/Friday/Sunday (which workout will I do, how much weight should I use, will my shoulder be loose enough to hold the bar on my shoulders), followed by a mandatory 30 minutes of yoga.  Cardio and yoga on the other days and karate every day for a mandatory 30 minutes.  I spend a great deal of time trying to balance that out with teaching my yoga class and leading my karate class (don't want to be too tired!).  Oh and which day will be my rest day.  Blah, blah, blah.

I've spent countless hours in self-examination as to why I can't do this.  Why don't I have the drive to make healthier choices?  Low self esteem?  Low deserve level?  Laziness?  Medication? High blood sugar?  Low blood sugar?  Blah, blah, blah.

Finally it hit me this morning like a ton of bricks (weights?).  I have managed to suck the joy and fun out of the entire thing.  I love going to karate class and yoga class (which I don't do because I've set up rules on how often I should go and get bogged down trying to decide which class and how shall I schedule my other stuff around it.  More blah, blah, blah.

I've killed off all of the spontaneity, fun, joy and pleasure of moving my body and replaced it with rules and schedules and restrictions.  No wonder this isn't working.  So today I am working toward regaining that joy and balance.  I have five workout options:  weights, treadmill, stationery bicycle, karate and yoga. 

I've recently discovered Spotify (it's a free music app where you can listen to all kinds of music and set up personal playlists and I'm sure there are other things but I've just gotten it and haven't investigated it fully (I was probably too busy setting up my workout plan).

I was watching the mens' portion of the Olympic team figure skating  and Jason Brown was skating to music from Riverdance called 'Reel Around the Sun' which was amazing music for an even more amazing skater.  I grabbed my iPod and found an album containing the piece of music on Spotify and I'm listening to it as I write this and it will be my workout music this morning (or at least until I decide I want something else).

But I digress.  Back to the main point.  My workout today will consist of any or all of my five workout elements in any order and in any duration.  The point here is to rediscover the joy of movement and to, well, move.  Earlier I was doing yoga which segued into karate punches and kicks, all spontaneous and joyful. I feel like my I've allowed my inner child to come out to play!

Now who wouldn't want to do something that makes one so happy?  Find your joy in movement and give yourself over to it.  Let your inner child out!