What is your preferred exercise or spiritual practice? What do you enjoy doing to get your heart pumping and endorphins flowing? To stay motivated in what you are doing to be fit and healthy, you need to enjoy it! It has taken me years to find the balance of what I enjoy doing, when I need to rest and when I need to push myself. I’m now at a place where I know what is good for my body and I am not afraid to change things up when I feel it is time to. And now I am at this place I have so much more energy and enjoy my yoga practice and workouts so much more!
In the media and on the internet today there is endless information and advice on what you should be doing to stay in shape. But we are all individual and unique and I think we have to find our own path. You may just love Pilates, you may just love running, or you may just love cycling, but for me I like to mix it up and it has taken me a lot of trial and error to come to this conclusion. There was a time when I was expecting myself to do a strong yoga practice every morning and train 5 times a week at the gym, and working a full time job. I never really managed this, and at the end of each week I felt very ran down, and spent the weekend recovering.
I love weight training, high intensity circuits, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa hot flow, Acro yoga and Yin yoga. I also love running and cycling. So I incorporate most of these things into my week, and I love it! It is up to you to find out what works for you and when you do it to fit most conveniently into your daily life. If yoga every morning at 5am doesn’t really work with your body rhythms or High Intensity Interval Training 5 times a week doesn’t appeal to you, then don’t feel you have to do it! Find your own rhythms, do the things you love, and rest when your body tells you to.
Your life is yours to enjoy! Your exercise routine and yoga practice should complement your life style and increase your energy levels and vitality, and reduce stress! If you feel you are over doing it, maybe it’s time to take a step back and revaluate your goals and the reasons why you are doing what you are doing. If you are not doing enough, maybe it’s time to up your game and find something you enjoy so you will keep it up.
Love what you do! Create time for the things you love! Respect your body rhythms to maintain your healthy energy!
Here is a great article from Bodybuilding.com for further reading on how yoga can complement your weight training… http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/yoga_bodybuilding_benefits.htm