Add Life to Your Years with Movement

One thing I have noticed over the years is that I really start to feel it if I don’t exercise for a few weeks.

I become more lazy, I become brilliant at conjuring up reasons why I don't have the time to exercise, my mood drops, I lack inspiration and no longer have that spring in my step or vibrant energy that I love so much. It scares the pants off me!

And I know all too well how challenging it can be to find the motivation or desire to exercise sometimes. But one thing I have found to be true … when I move my body every day, I feel healthier and happier. It’s as simple as that.

There is so much research out there stating that regular exercise:

• is one of the best physical stress-reduction techniques
• relaxes tense muscles
• helps us to sleep better
• improves blood flow to the brain
• reduces our risk to certain dis-eases
• releases chemicals called endorphins in to the blood stream giving us a feeling of happiness.
• And then there’s the healthy glow that exercise brings out in the complexion.

Whenever I am entertaining the idea of not exercising I ask myself these two simple questions:

If I don’t get up and exercise, what will my body be like in 5 year’s time?

If I do get up and exercise, what will my body be like in 5 year’s time?

Personally, I love the idea of adding life to my years and years to my life.

The thought of not being able to move my body as I would like to, when I get older, is enough to frighten me in to getting my butt off the chair.

And ... I love to move my body. I love the sensation of feeling the muscles in my body being able to lift my 25kg dogs off the ground.

I love knowing that I can hike up the mountain each morning when we take the dogs for their morning run.

On the flip side, I’ve had those months whereby I’ve been fabulously lazy. Doing absolute nothing but laying on my back with every excuse I could think of to avoid moving my body. Getting consumed with work, glued to the computer screen for hours and hours, thinking that I didn’t have the time to exercise. Not my best choices. Why?

The difference that I feel and be when I exercise is incredible. I’m a totally different person. More happy. More lively. More creative. More loving. And more excited about my life and living.

And so, every day, a couple times throughout the day, I STOP whatever I'm doing to go for 10 minute 'walk breaks'.