Hate Exercising? #vlog #chaiwithsuzy #SuzysIlation

This week I thought I would do a face to face and talk about a topic that you either love or hate - exercising.

Then as I started talking, my vlog morphed into something else as well that could fit in with a little manipulation of the prompt at Friday Reflections this week - Disconnected.

And all of it fit in really nicely with Denyse's prompt Takjng Stock - although her prompt means something else entirely, I'm taking the liberty of interpreting that as taking stock of life, of circumstances and taking appropriate action.

Confused?  Grab a cuppa and chat with me ...

On my youtube channel:  https://youtu.be/5NxeWqa906M

Even the smallest actions are steps in the right direction

~ anonymous

I hope you enjoyed my vlog today and hope the tips made sense. If you have any tips of your own on the topics I chatted about, please share in the comments below.


Linking to:
#LifeThisWeek
#FridayReflections
#MondayMusings
#Openslather
LovinLife


Warm Regards


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UBC Jul 19 - Small changes

Ultimate Blogging Challenge  and  NaBloPoMo - Day 19

Small changes can make big improvements.

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Have you ever gone full swing into making dramatic changes - like a full on exercise regime or a crash diet - only to find that it is simply not sustainable?

Making big changes suddenly and quickly can in some cases end up being harmful and if you're like me, simply cannot be sustained as a lifestyle change.

But little changes can eventually lead to big improvements.

So last week I started to make little changes in my diet and exercise regime:

• Added another 5 minutes of exercise to my morning routine

• Added 5 minutes of yoga breathing 

• Climbed stairs at work once a day - did a lot of stair climbing in India as there were no lifts where I lived. Didn't realise it then but I guess it was a nice workout.

• Cut out the morning snack and replaced it with some roast veges and a piece of fruit

The little changes weren't hard to make and hardly noticeable, yet I feel a whole lot better. Eventually these changes will become everyday routine and the big improvements will be visible.

For now, I'm happy with these.

Small changes can make big improvements. If you are overwhelmed with big changes, make small ones.

If you've been reading my posts I had mentioned that I had ordered my juicer (NutriBullet extractor) which has now arrived. I tried it today and it was awesome. Adding that to my small changes too.

Have a super weekend.

Warm Regards


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UBC Day 21 - Exercising - friend or foe?

Day 21 of the Ultimate Blogging Challenge.

Some days the mind goes blank - nothing inspirational comes to mind, no prompts appeal or spark imagination. Then you come across something that fires up the mind and a post starts to take shape.

Over the last few days I've read some posts where weight loss has been mentioned and as I was commenting on one of them, this post started to form in my mind.

Over the years exercising has been friend and foe at different times of my life. When the weight just peals off, I know I've found the right exercise programme and that makes me truly happy. Then wham - something comes along to sabotage it.

The gym membership gets too expensive, or I change my work venue so now need to hook into another gym, or a health condition develops that prevents or limits that type of exercise activity, or I just lose interest.

In 1997 I joined a gym and I was enthusiastic and regular.  The weight just peeled off. I looked good and I felt great. Then the Winter came along, the motivation started to drop and that started the period of "donation" to the gym. I managed to get back in off and on over the years but the pleasure of "gymming" departed.

In 2004 I took up Qi Gung ( Chinese practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation). I absolutely loved it - it had all the elements I needed. I did it for nearly a year and then one day, our sifu (teacher) just upped and left - went off to China to further his knowledge of qi gung. The venue changed and it was just too far away for me to attend.

5 years ago I started doing karate. I did it religiously for 2 years, lost tons of weight, my fitness soared and again I absolutely loved it. Then suddenly circumstances changed again. My sensei (teacher) left, started his own dojo - again miles away from where I live or work. Karate was also damaging my knees and I was finding myself in considerable pain off and on. I continue practising at home with very lite intensity but it's never the same as attending a class.

Early last year I thought I found the perfect class - a blend of karate, tai chi and qi gung. Well, my back packed up twice and had me flat on my back for a week at a time.

I wasn't listening - the Universe was sending a message - no martial arts, find something else.

I started attending physiotherapy sessions and the exercises sent my mind back to the time I lived in India many many moons ago to my practice of yoga. These exercises were just that and so I started on my yoga practice again.

At first it was hard going and I really had to motivate myself, remind myself that this was good for my back, but the enjoyment wasn't there.

Then I found the perfect motivation.  I make my routines, my time for prayer. I say my mantras with each move. At the gym, I listen to devotional music while I'm on the treadmill and make that my moment of prayer too.

I spend 15-20 minutes of yoga each morning, 30-45 mins at the gym thrice a week and about 15-20mins of lite intensity karate on weekends. If the weather is good I try to take a walk and connect with nature - All in all nothing too arduous or time consuming.

I absolutely look forward to my yoga each morning - this is my peaceful moment of connection with Him. I exercise in His name.

I've made exercise my spiritual connection, not my recipe for weight loss, fitness or health. I believe that having made it a spiritual practice, these benefits that come with exercising regularly, with pleasure and with dedication, will simply fall into place.

So, is exercise your friend or foe?  Please share your stories and thoughts.

I hope that if you are struggling with exercising as I did for many many years, my post may prompt you to find that connection (whatever that may be) that makes it all happen for you.

Happy exercising.


Warm Regards and Namaste