It is a truth pretty universally acknowledged that our human bodies benefit from regular movement and activity. To quote Elle Woods from Legally Blonde: “Exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! Happy people don’t just go killing their husbands… they just don’t!”
In all seriousness, now that summer is (almost) here, Minnesotans can be seen crawling out from hibernation and tentatively hiking, biking, and in some cases triking their way to improved health.
For those of us that might be a bit rusty or intimidated in this area, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite ways to get your blood pumping, energy flowing, and body thriving.
M*power Your Body with Movement!
Walking (and Hiking):
Just taking a 20 minute walk around the block on your lunch hour or after dinner gets your whole body moving, gets you out of that stressed “hunched” position, and at this level puts very little stress on your muscles or joints. Bonus points for taking the opportunity to catch up with a friend/ neighbor or to do your own mindfulness exercise (you can observe and reflect on nature or even just the sensations in your body as you are walking). People often find that over time they are inspired to walk a bit further each time and return to their day with a mood boost and increased energy. This also makes it easy to increase your speed or distance over time and eventually be getting quite an intense workout!
Yoga:
I personally feel the most benefits from yoga when I am in a regular, even daily, routine. However, during those times when I’m a bit “out of the loop,” I still find that even a couple of minutes of yogic sequences really gets my circulation going, loosens up my back and shoulders to alleviate tension and pain, and helps to quiet the “busy bee” that sometimes invades my mindspace. I will admit that the undeniable “warrior woman” feeling that yoga brings is more easily accessed through a longer time commitment. Raise your hand if you recognize that all-is-right-with-the-world feeling after a particularly awesome yoga class (or even DVD in your living room)?
Dancing:
Personally, this is my favorite way to get a little physical activity. Zumba (especially those salsa songs!), or other structured dance helps keep both my body and brain healthy (hello tap dance choreography!), but sometimes the best thing is just letting loose on the dance floor, in the kitchen (set the knives down first!), or your living room. Put on your favorite playlist, close your eyes, and find your rhythm. I promise no one has ever regretted taking the time to do a little dance to the music that moves them! The key is to find an environment where you are able to let go of all self-consciousness and let loose. Shut those shades if you need to ;). Like walking, dancing can be modified into an accessible exercise for almost anyone.
Kickboxing:
While a bit more advanced than some of the earlier options, and an increased risk of injury is possible, kickboxing really takes the cake for stress relief, confidence building (even/ especially if you happen to be a petite woman), muscle toning and strengthening, and aerobic conditioning. A few extra bonuses? You can really get your blood pumping while actually keeping things pretty low impact on your lower body using punches, strikes, and other movements that feel comfortable for you.
Some other favorites of mine:
Rebounding (jumping on a trampoline), Tennis, skating, kettle bells, basketball, aerobics, qigong,
While not my favorite, a more comprehensive list of ways to get your body movin’:
Biking, jogging, housework (vacuuming, yard work, shoveling), pilates, swimming, strength training, skiing, baseball/softball, jumping rope, hula hooping, golf, football, horseback riding