Have you noticed when we talk about exercise and movement, we’re usually talking about the health benefits?
Burns Calories
Burns Body Fat and Inches
Boosts Cardio Fitness
Improves Balance
Challenges Core Muscles
. . . and on and on and on.
The problem is this information (as great as it sounds) doesn’t seem to get us motivated enough to get us out the door. Especially if we’ve not exercised for a while.
Maybe another approach would motivate us. Instead of thinking about what’s good for our mind and body, why not flip the script and think about simply having fun? Do you think you could get behind that?
Let’s think back to when movement was simply. . .fun.
Childhood – When you were a kid at play, I bet you were spontaneous, creative, and living in the moment. There wasn’t a particular goal in mind, you were simply enjoying the act of playing.
Most kids at play are happy, imaginative, and lighthearted. They giggle easily and never want the play to end.
They are not constrained by rules nor are they anxious or overly concerned about winning – they just want to have fun. They are fully immersed in the wonderful world of play.
Let me ask you, what games did you like to play as a kid?
I loved them all – from “hide and go seek” to hopscotch, hula hoop, touch football. Or going to the park or playground. I could swing on the swings for hours, climb the “monkey bars” and love the slides -the higher the better.
Do you remember Four Square?
It’s a game that dates back to the 50s and Beth loved it. The only other game that came close to her love of Four Square was hopscotch. Both games she could play for hours.
Think about what you loved as a kid.
As we get older, it’s easy to forget the simple joys of play and movement from our childhood.
We’d do ourselves a favor if we took the “should” out of exercise and replaced it with “want to.”
I have the feeling if we added more play, it would get all of us out the door much faster.
Teens – As a teenager, it was all about dancing for Beth and me. And also boys, but that’s another blog for another day.
Dances in the gym after football games. Dancing at house parties we called “quarter parties” because that’s how much it costs to enter. Neighborhood block parties where we’d dance in the street.
Moving to the music of the late 60s and 70s and growing up in Michigan our music was straight out of the “Motor City” under the record label known as Motown Records. Groups like The Temptations, The Supremes, The Miracles, and on and on. And of course, by the 70s there was “Philly Soul” (Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, and Billy Paul,) and later Disco (Donna Summer)
Wouldn’t it be fun to bring back that sound now? Have a few people over, move the furniture back, and dance the night away.
Or simply use dance as your daily cardio. Brush up on your “twist” “mashed potatoes,” “jerk,” “shing-a-ling,” the “Hitch Hike” and so many more.
Dance. It’s the perfect way to combine physical fitness with fun.
Go ahead and embrace your inner child and let loose. Laugh as you jump rope, or swing to the beat as you dance. Or maybe you’d simply like to run around the yard like you used to.
Sometimes it is hard, but let’s remember the pure, uninhibited delight we felt when we were young and free. We can recapture that spirit.
Staying active should not feel like punishment. Let it be your chance to reconnect with activities that once filled you with joy.
We can't wait to hear how you're rediscovering the joy of movement. Share your experience in the comments below! ❤️
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