Being & feeling beautiful aren’t the typical words that express our relationship with exercise. Words like strong, tough, mind over matter, ‘I have to’… are perhaps more like it? But feeling beautiful and shining from the inside out can be something we experience with exercise. To re-connect to your joy and to feel harmony in your movement feels naturally divine and beauty-full. Here are a few simple suggestions that can support you to embrace your beauty & to feel radiant in your exercise.
#1 Intention
Before you even put on your training gear, take a moment to check in with yourself; what is your intension of exercise today? Is it coming from wanting, needing, having to, trying to get a sense of relief? Or is it from your rhythm, from a sense of self-love and to feel amazing? This is a great opportunity to reflect, connect and then go deeper. This is key for everyone no matter what ‘fitness & health’ level you are, so that when we exercise we do it with the energy and intention that will continue to support our bodies throughout the day.
#2 Discerning the way you exercise: Are you with yourself?
While we might not associate exercise with ‘numbing out’ when exercising it is very easy for us to ‘check out’ and or ‘numb out.’ This happens simply when we are not present with the movement.
Contrary to popular fitness myths ‘pushing it’ is a form of numbing out. Using drive and force in your exercise is a way to override what the body is feeling and numbing what is there to be felt. The overriding may give you a temporary high from endorphins but after a session this will leave the body drained. On the other hand without connecting to the body there can be a holding back in exercise which is also a way to ‘numb out, be comfortable’ or ‘hold back.’ In this case there may be a call to keep your pace rather than slow down. This is an opportunity to become aware of patterns and beliefs about exercise you may be holding on to. Try to make this a fun way to deepen & appreciate yourself rather than a way to harden the body, push yourself, check-out or disconnect.
Contrary to popular fitness myths ‘pushing it’ is a form of numbing out. Using drive and force in your exercise is a way to override what the body is feeling and numbing what is there to be felt. The overriding may give you a temporary high from endorphins but after a session this will leave the body drained. On the other hand without connecting to the body there can be a holding back in exercise which is also a way to ‘numb out, be comfortable’ or ‘hold back.’ In this case there may be a call to keep your pace rather than slow down. This is an opportunity to become aware of patterns and beliefs about exercise you may be holding on to. Try to make this a fun way to deepen & appreciate yourself rather than a way to harden the body, push yourself, check-out or disconnect.
#3 Gentleness
The body responds immediately to gentleness and it is the simplest way of staying connected and loving in your body, it feels gorgeous. So when you pick up your towel, hand weight, take a sip of water, lie on mat remember to come from the quality of gentleness. Gentleness is more than a physical action it also extends to what you are saying to yourself. We can be so hard with our thoughts & expectations of ourselves. Discern the energy of these unloving thoughts & return to love with gentle supportive thoughts.
Bev tip: start with a simple ‘gentle’ action & intention each session, then once honoured start with another so you gradually build the strength in your ‘gentleness muscle’.
#4 Nature
Being outdoors while exercising makes it real and such a beautiful experience to be in our universe. It is especially good for people new to gentle connected exercise as there are less distractions, no mirrors, no grunting men (sorry guys), no loud music etc. You can be within you in every single step and it feels gorgeous. This time can also be used to feel and acknowledge that you are as amazing as the birds that sing, as funny as the Kookaburra that laughs, that you are as beautiful as the sunrise & that you are connected to everything.
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Bev tip - Be prepared! Yes it does rain, yes it does get cold, yes it gets hot etc which can be an excuse to not do your session & stay out of your rhythm. So nurture yourself with suitable clothing, choose sensible times of the day to train, etc & enjoy
A great investment in most countries wet weather jacket |
#5 Playfulness
Be playful and keep your movements light. Remember the movements that you love to do, feel wonderful to you, stretching that feels yummy etc, the ones that truly bring you joy.
Bev tip – at the top of hill, edge of cliff, in the middle of a forest – stand and open your arms wide, smile, giggle, move in circles, swing your hips etc & feel the joy in being you. Take this moment to appreciate you.
#6 Be Gorgeous
A lot of people lovingly spend time putting work, social or lunch outfits together so they can step out feeling their best yet when going to train they wear daggy clothing – fraid t shirts, old leggings etc because its ‘only exercise.’ Have you wondered if perhaps you avoid exercise because you make yourself feel ungorgeous before you even start?
Investing in exercise wear that you feel amazing in is another great opportunity to self-love and nurture – do it simply for how it makes you feel, no one else, and let yourself feel gorgeous. It can be expensive to get new outfits so you can always start with a new workout top in your favourite colour. Other ways to put gorgeous into your session could be: a cute hair clip, gently applying tinted moisturiser, protective lip balm, sassy underwear, a perfectly fitted sports bra, applying perfume or lovingly putting on your favourite body lotion.
Investing in exercise wear that you feel amazing in is another great opportunity to self-love and nurture – do it simply for how it makes you feel, no one else, and let yourself feel gorgeous. It can be expensive to get new outfits so you can always start with a new workout top in your favourite colour. Other ways to put gorgeous into your session could be: a cute hair clip, gently applying tinted moisturiser, protective lip balm, sassy underwear, a perfectly fitted sports bra, applying perfume or lovingly putting on your favourite body lotion.
Bev tip - Have a ‘feel gorgeous routine’ for exercise that supports you to feel really special as you step out.
#7 Be Nurturing
Our bodies are amazing, they do so much for us every day with not many thanks J so make stretching part of your rhythm. To lovingly give back, gently stretch at the end of a session. This only takes a couple of moments and if you stretch with the purpose of loving and giving back to your body this is an important moment to bring appreciation and thanks to your body for how amazing it is. Then take is deeper . . .
# 8 Self Appreciation
Our ‘self appreciation muscle’ can always be developed & strengthened. So when you take a moment to stretch, take a moment to also ask yourself what loving things have you done for yourself today? What felt awesome in your body with the exercise session? Where did you re-connect back in to body? What did you do/say/feel to lovingly stay in your rhythm? Without critique or a need for perfection appreciate and feel the depth of the beauty-full you in all aspects of your life.
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