We all do it.  Come up with grand ideas in our heads about what we’ll do, how often, how great it will feel and how awesome we’ll look.  Plus, the harder, sweatier, more intense it is, the better! 

 

I’m talking about exercise.  It’s taken on such monumental weight (no pun intended) in our lives because it’s become something extra that you have to fit in, rather than something that is just naturally part of your existence.

 

I used to be lucky enough to live in a city where walking was the main form of transportation in my life.  On any given day, I would walk for about 2 hours, just getting around.  But now, I live in LA.  Which I adore, but even walking is an event here, because we are so addicted to our cars.

 

Then I doggie sat a couple times and had a revelation.  Here I am, taking care of these cuties, walking them without fail twice a day, no matter what.  Meaning, regardless of my schedule, those little mongrels were being walked, whether it was for 10 minutes or an hour.  Why would I not bless myself with this same courtesy of movement?

I am a person that loves to move and exercise, and I get to do a lot of both just by nature of my job.  But doing it as an instructor is not the same as doing it for yourself, and as my schedule was pretty packed, I was turning exercise into such a huge “event” in my head that I started to make it last on my to-do list (aside from my morning yoga practice of course).  But it doesn’t have to be such a big deal.  Making an effort to walk twice a day is awesome.

 

So I implemented my own program.  Twice a day, gotta walk my dog.  Yes, I pretend I have one, and if I start stressing about “not having time,” I literally say out loud, gotta walk my dog! And off I go.

 

It’s magical really.  Since starting my walking program, I made a huge discovery about the way I move which is helping me to heal a long-standing hip injury.  I also take in the beautiful flowers that bloom all over my neighborhood, not to mention the intoxicating aroma of jasmine in the air.  I step away from my computer and find bursts of inspiration and solutions to problems while outdoors, which makes me far more productive when I return to the task at hand.  And occasionally, I run into a friend or acquaintance and exchange smiles, hugs, and kind words.  What’s not to love?

And yes, on top of all that, lean muscles.  I’m not doing anything painful that requires a lot of preparation or cool down.  I’m simply moving my body the way God intended, connecting to nature, taking a break from technology, and appreciating a moment of pure presence. 

 

Take Action Now:

1)    Go for a walk! Just 10 minutes. See how you feel.

2)    Share your insights in the comments below.

 

Perhaps we’ll run into each other some time, “walking our dogs.”  If you have a real dog, that’s cool too.

 

With love,

 

Sasha

 

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