Exercise is often viewed as a chore or treated as punishment for what we eat. We drag ourselves to the gym out of obligation, cranking through repetitive motions conveniently forgotten until the next guilt trip. What if we moved our bodies from a place of joy instead?
Joyful movement reminds us that physical activity can delight and rejuvenate us. It liberates exercise from drudgery by doing activities that get our hearts pumping in ways that also make our souls sing.
Here are some tips to get moving while boosting your mood and vibration:
Choose Exercises You Love
Rather than defaulting to the Stairmaster or loading the squat bar, ask yourself – when I was a child, what physical activities made me feel free and alive? Was it biking with the wind whipping through your hair? Twirling across a dance floor? Gliding across a frozen pond or rolling down grassy hills?
Reconnect with those joyful movements now. Play lively music and dance with abandon. Go for a bike ride, reminiscing about youthful days. Inline skate, hula hoop, jump rope, play tag – whatever ignites fun. It keeps you active and channels your inner child.
Take Your Workout Outdoors
Trade the four walls of the gym for the majestic outdoors. Studies show exercising outside lifts mood and energy more than indoor fitness. Running, hiking, cycling or doing yoga amidst nature surrounds you with fresh air and beauty.
Pay attention to sights, sounds, and smells that fade into the background when indoors. Let nature’s splendor and the element of exploration energize you.
Incorporate Music, Friends, and Family
Joy thrives when shared. Ask friends, family or your significant other to join you in fun physical activities. Hike together while relishing the time to connect. Laugh through a Zumba or hip-hop dance class. Go rollerblading or take a belly dancing tutorial as a couple.
Playing lively music while you cook dinner or do chores also lightens the mood. Make working out a welcoming social event, not an isolating punishment.
Sample New and Exciting Activities
Break out of your exercise routine by sampling new experiences that ignite your curiosity – rock climbing, trapeze class, paddle boarding, roller skating, trampoline park, martial arts lessons, slacklining.
Look for Groupons or ClassPass free trials and get adventurous! Novel activities make working out feel like play. You’ll discover new favorite ways to break a sweat.
Focus on How Your Body Feels
Instead of counting calories burned or judging fitness levels, shift your focus inward. How does fresh air feel filling your lungs on a nature hike? What sensations arise from holding a yoga pose? Does your spirit feel lighter, swaying to lively music?
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Revel in how movement revitalizes your body, mind and mood.
Movement is essential for our health, but it should also uplift our spirit. Follow inspiration over obligation when working out. Dance with joy, explore nature, share activities with loved ones and discover new forms of playful fitness. Make exercise an act of celebration and your increased vibrancy will show.