Weight a Minute: "Exercise is an appreciation of the incredible body that sustains your life." -- Margaret Marshall
Often I conduct workshops within corporations addressing stress-reduction and relaxation. During these workshops the attendees share how stressful it is to be a conscientious and competent employee while at the same time address pressing family issues. They claim they find little time to relax or release stress and their minds get so overloaded with negative thoughts that they have allowed their good health and fun times to fade away or be in jeopardy.
During these workshops we address some easy tips to relax their body and mind through deep breathing or mediation. The attendees are asked to take just a few minutes, as needed throughout the day, to practice these techniques in place of mindlessly reacting to a stressful situation. The goal is to act rather than react; to allow your mind a few minutes of silence and insight, and to calm the body to bring forth a more acceptable or productive response. Quieting your mind through meditation induces inspiration to manage feelings and handle stress.
The theme that runs deep in each one of these seminars is that physical exercise will help accomplish relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, inspiration, healthy habits, creativity, and a good healthy outlook throughout the day. Exercise will make you powerful both mentally and physically. It will improve your endurance and allow you to feel confident to handle stress in a constructive manner.
For me, walking each morning, year round, accomplishes this. I breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the morning sky, and am totally engulfed in my thoughts. Creative ideas are born while walking and my internal conversations are insightful and allow me to problem-solve when necessary. Physical exercise is my meditation and inspiration. It allows me the time to set goals along with the steps needed to accomplish them. It happens in my mind first, because everything you want in life must first be a thought.
Sonia Satra, creator of Moticise Mindset Reset program, and former actress on The Guiding Light and One Life to Live, says she learned from her years as an actress that success was based on thoughts, not always talent. Confidence and positive thoughts are critical for a strong, successful mind-set. Although Satra had a life coach while acting on the soap operas, she found that exercising was the optimal time to think, create, and focus. In fact she created her successful Moticise program while running on the treadmill because she claims she has always learned important life lessons by mountain climbing, sky-diving, or just being physically active each day. "It's the Mind Body connection that leads to success in our endeavors," Satra states, and that is the theory behind Moticise.
Is it mediation, inspiration, or physical exercise? I believe they are all related and lead to stress management, insight, creativity, good health, and serenity. Inspiration will happen during mediation and/or physical exercise, and meditation can take place during exercise.
How do you choose the right exercise?
First, make a list of activities you are physically able to accomplish and those you enjoy doing. When you enjoy exercise, you'll continue. It can be as simple as turning on the music and dancing in your living room or using a hula-hoop during television commercials. Maybe you'll enjoy taking exercise or dance classes, or opt to join a gym or follow an exercise program on YouTube or a DVD. The type of exercise you choose is irrelevant.
Next, find a time of day, or day of the week where you can exercise with no distractions or interruptions. You may need to schedule this time as you would an important meeting. Make no excuses.
Then, clear your mind. It is time for you to continually release any negative thoughts or feelings to allow positive thoughts and ideas to enter. If you find negativity enter into your thoughts, repeat "I don't have time for you now." Let them dissipate and address them later with a different mindset.
Finally, get into the habit of regular exercise and embrace it as part of your lifestyle. It will afford you more energy and help you think clearly, enabling you to problem-solve with a calmer state of mind. Feeling calm is healthier and will help you focus on your goals.
In time you'll think "Anything seems possible."