Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today after a long weekend of writing and hanging out with my family. I’m getting closer to the finish line, and I hope I can do this story justice, but enough about that. 😊
Today, I’d like to talk about how important it is to find balance in your life. I’m sure you know that balance is important for your mental health, because the mind and the body work together.
Right now, I’m struggling with balancing everything I’m trying to accomplish, and making time for is exercise. Yet, I know I need to exercise to keep up my health. In fact, my doctor recommended I exercise at least six times a week.
Now, when I exercise, I usually run, and I dedicate an hour to it. The problem is that some nights I don’t have an hour. I get home late and want to hang out with my family for a while, or I’ve had a stressful day at work and all I want to do is sit down and relax, or I’d rather work on my story. So, there are times when I’ve blown it off. I started running in the morning, and I’ve found it increases my energy level for the day, but I still can’t seem to do more than two or three times a week.
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There is one drawback to running and that is, when I have to run on the treadmill, it is incredibly boring. I have a hard time motivating myself to do it. So, I decided I’m going to look into a yoga class. I used to do yoga once a week before the kidlets arrived and I enjoyed it immensely. There’s also that mind/body connection with yoga that I miss. Whenever I finished a yoga class, I always came away with the feeling of being totally relaxed while also being fully aware. It was an awesome feeling that’s for sure.
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I’m going to count that as exercise even though it doesn’t increase my heart rate. I hear hot yoga is good for your body and helps build muscle. Have any of you tried hot yoga? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that.
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There are some side benefits to yoga, too. It improves your circulation, strength and flexibility as well as your spine health. Spine health is important these days when you sit in front of the computer for most of the day.
Yoga is a great alternative when you just don’t feel like pounding the pavement and it stretches the whole body, whereas running only works your legs. So, there you have it. My plan to work yoga into my already busy life, so I can create balance. Does that even make sense? LOL!
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How about you, what do you do to exercise your body? Any yoga practitioners out there? How do you add one more activity and create balance? Leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
I hope you enjoy that yoga class! I’ve never done one, but I’d like to sometime soon. Hot yoga sounds particularly interesting, so I’m hoping one of your other followers will have advice for us about it. 🙂
Me, too! Thanks for stopping by Lydia! I appreciate your support and your comments.
I also need to find that balance these days!
Hot yoga… I tried it a few times years ago. It was good. I definitely felt like I’d had a work out by the end!!
Awesome! I will have to check it out! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it! 🙂
Running is so hard, I have so much respect for people who can do it regularly! My husband is a runner and he thinks nothing of doing a few miles after a long day at work. Meanwhile, if I run fifty feet, I have to use my asthma inhaler! I love my yoga and pilates so much – they really have changed my body for the better. I’m so much more flexible than I used to be, and they relax my mind at the same time. Definite win-win.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I’ve thought about Pilates, too. Do you use a machine or do you go to a class? I don’t know a lot about it, but I’ve heard that it’s a great way to stay in shape. 🙂
I do “Mat Pilates”, so only a mat is required. I tried to find a studio in my area where I could use the machines, but for some reason, pilates studios charge in the vicinity of $300 a month for memberships! It’s nuts!
That is nuts!! I’ll have to check out Mat Pilates. I just might enjoy it! 🙂
I’ve enjoyed yoga (and tai chi) in the past and plan on taking up both in the future. Started walking again for a least 20-plus minutes after my ab and weight exercises. Have had 2 knee operations in the past, so running is out for me. Happy bending and sweating, Lisa! LOL!
I’m glad to hear you’re walking! It burns just as many calories as running, you just don’t work out your heart like you do when you run. I hope all is well with you, Sharon. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I love your author life posts! 🙂
I think that I have literally tried every form of exercise known to man. Running is fine but it lacks the social benefits and the impact takes its toll eventually. I’m not a consistent yoga practitioner, however the range of motion and focus required are extremely beneficial. I think yoga combined with resistance training is an amazing and sustainable exercise regimen.
Oh my gosh! Kerry Allen one of my cross country teammates! It’s good to see you here. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I also do strength training, but I think I need to get more weights. I’ve reached a plateau. 🙂
I used to walk 4 miles every day, or cycle 11 to and from work, I really need to start again, Lynne and I have often thought about yoga classes, might have to give it a go
I think you should. It’d be great fun to do it as a husband and wife team. 🙂
We definitely should, lol we are starting to feel our age 😁
LOL! I know that feeling all too well! 😉
I confess that I have dropped off in my motivation to run. I used to run five or six times per week. Now I am down to two or three times.
I was made redundant twenty months ago and I am struggling to find a job. Perversely, I am too experienced or “too strategic” for most of the jobs I have applied for. Potential employers seem to think that, because I have been a global executive, I have lost the ability, or even the will, to do a less lofty job. On the contrary, I love to be a solutions engineer, out on the road, resolving my customers’ challenges and problems. It is most frustrating and it has worn me down.
I have lost my mojo!
However, I have taken myself off on holiday to a Greek island, and I am running at dawn every day for an hour before it gets too hot. I am finding that my will to live is returning. I am loving the countryside that I run through.
Perhaps, when I return to England, I’ll look for a yoga class near me. I may even look for hot yoga!
I’ll let you know.
Yes. Please keep me informed. Yoga is supposed to be good for runners because our muscles are always tight. LOL! I’m glad you’re on holiday. A Greek Island??? How awesome is that!! Enjoy! 🙂