How To Stop Dreading Exercise

Do you ever have those days when the thought of exercise is about as exciting as multiplying fractions?

I had one this morning.

From the school drop off to the mini-market, and then the entire way to barre, I felt a swarm of dark clouds hovering above my aura. It was as if the thunderstorm was about to pounce.

I knew I wanted (needed!) to exercise.
But I was just not that into it.
Before my head spun completely out of control, I pulled it together with these sort-of simple steps.

Here’s how to move-on from that annoying exercise dread.

• Get the mind in sync with the body.

In other words — pull yourself into the present!
Is your mind thinking that you don’t want to workout?  Stop thinking about it! Instead, bring all awareness to the body. Pay attention to where you are, and what you are doing in the moment. And make sure to hold the focus while working out. If there’s an instructor in the class, it’s a lot easier to do — just follow the direction.  If you’re on your own, like when you run for a few miles, it’s all on you to keep the mind and body as one. Music helps make the connection. And so does the breath.

• Exercise at the right time…for you.
  
  I’m an early bird. My brain and body are at their best in the morning so I hit the 7:30am class. Okay, I’ll admit that I like to get it over with (and avoid the ominous work-out dread). But having a natural rhythm that peaks in the morning makes exercising at that hour simply better.

• Bring a friend, or find a friendly face in class.

Since coordinating with someone else’s schedule feels too complicated for my exercise routine, I prefer to go solo. I also get irritated when the yoga teacher asks us to introduce ourselves to our neighbor.  And as soon as I hear the words “partner yoga”, I plot my escape to the bathroom. I don’t ever actually leave the room when it’s time to double up for Seated Forward Bend because deep down I know that connecting with another during exercise is a good thing.  It feels right while I’m in it.  (It’s the dreaded thoughts beforehand that do me in!)  Sometimes I’ll find a friendly face while working with a challenging pose. Connecting with someone who’s perhaps feeling my pain helps lighten the load.  And it brings me back to the present.

• Inject some YOU into the move.
  Whenever possible allow your mind body connection to create space so your soul can shine through. For me, this means adding a little dance in my yoga transitions. Nothing grand, but definitely with a groove. Just a simple gesture to make the practice mine. Even fun.

How do you push through the dread of exercise?

facebook: facebook.com/elyshalenkin
twitter: @elyshalenkin
instagram: elysha_nyc
Follow my blog with Bloglovin