Motivation. It's hard to find.
Where to start when you just don’t feel like you can.
I have chatted with so many people about this subject of finding motivation to move. It is more then challenging when you are sick, or have injury, or depression, or kids, or, Or, OR..... The list goes on and on. Why is it that even though we know yoga, or exercise, will help us feel better, we just can’t seem to get started?
I would love to be able to give you the key to finding motivation. Yet, because we are all so different, what motivates one friend will not motivate the next. We all have to find our own reason to move forward. What I can give you is what works for me. These are the steps I take to start moving when my body is, or has been tired and sick.
Start small:
I don’t try to start with a big, long practice or exercise plan. Who has time for that? Not me. I try to fit in small movements, exercises, and yoga poses throughout my day. It is very hard for me to set aside an hour of uninterrupted time. Yet, I can usually find 3 minutes here, 5 minutes there, 1 minute somewhere else. This all adds up! As I notice an increase in strength and energy, it’s amazing how time seems to become more available. Once I have started to move throughout my day, I tend to find 15-30 minutes for a yoga practice every now and then.
Don’t get discouraged:
It is so easy to get discouraged. Don’t! Be proud of each movement you make! If you do one squat that you didn’t do the day before, that is progress! Focus on the progress not the set backs. There will be set backs. The good news is, it is easier to come back from a set back than you think. Your body will remember quicker each time you come back.
Set little goals:
I have a tendency to set a huge goal, and then I get discouraged when I am not reaching it quickly enough. Instead, I have started setting smaller goals to start. Doing 10 wall pushups every day. Doing a downward facing dog for 5 breaths in the morning. It feels more rewarding to meet these small goals, than to strive and strive without reward. The big goal is still out there, I now have stepping stones to get there.
Here are a few of the small poses I like to sprinkle through out my day:
Wall/table/floor push ups. If a regular floor pushup is in your wheel house, and you have the space, drop and do a few! I find it easier to do 10 wall/table pushups here and there through out my day. Here is a short tutorial on wall fingertip pushups.
Down ward facing dog, wall or floor.(Adho Mukha Svanasana) This full pose is a little harder to just toss into your (my) day, but doing the wall version is a great way to build a little strength and flexibility. Here is a link to a short wall down dog tutorial.
Chair pose or half squats. (Utkatasana) I love this pose. It is a great way to build leg and core strength. It is also a very easy pose to add in to the day. (The added baby weight is unnecessary, but does make the pose more interesting.)
These are just a few of my favorite poses to add into my day. Here are a few others I find easy to add here and there: Forward fold, tree pose, standing back bend. Nothing is off limits, just find what works for you!
I’m sure that you have heard this all before, but sometimes it is nice to have a reminder from someone other then yourself to move slowly. Just remember to move.
Yoga In Peace Out
Irene
