Intuitive Exercising

I was reading a blog ( http://zmama75.wordpress.com/2007/10/02/lets-discuss-exercise/ ) this morning that talked about her previous approach to exercising and her current concerns on it.  Particularly in view of the Shoulds and Intuitive Eating.  After reading this, I got to wondering about Intuitive Exercising and what that would entail.

Would we ask our bodies if it wants to move?  or maybe ask it if it really wants to be sitting on the couch (or bed) right now (*looks innocent*)?

Would we ask it what kind of movement it wants?  What area of the body it wants to focus on?  arms? legs? core? Does it want to stretch? or strengthen? or play an active game?

I still believe that we work on nutrition to get healthier bodies, and do exercises to get a fitter body.  But not all movements are exercises.  Many movements are done just for the sheer joy of doing them.  When we walk around the block alone to think or chatting with a fellow walker.  When we ride our bike to the store or park.  When we..say..pick up a hula hoop (adult sized) or a jump rope or an active Wii game or a basketball or skiis or go jumping into rain puddles or swim in the lake.  One can view these as “exercise” and think “I have to do this”….or one can say, “I love doing this” or “I really want to do this”.

 I think I’ve always bordered on the edge of Intuitive Exercising.  I’ve never been a fan of exercise videos unless I really liked them.  I never was into them for more than a week or so.  If I wasn’t enjoying it then I’d stop doing it and beat myself up over not being “strong” enough in willpower and commitment.  But there are things that I LOVE to do.  I love playing on balance equipment.  I loved feeling strong…but I prefer bodyweight exercises over lifting weights.  (and I know people who love lifting weights and get major smiles as they do so!)  I like doing things that have a purpose to them.  Such as biking to a place and not just biking for movement.  I love playing games but not particularly sports.  I like things that I can do alone but may want to show off later.  And I like to be able to see tangible improvements…such as being able to do more pushups, or tapping my thighs and noticing that the muscle was nice and firm just under the skin (before getting to the fatty areas…lol). 

I LOVE these things, I get JOY out of these things.  And thus these become the types of activities that I look forward to doing.  As long as I don’t tell myself I have to or should do them.  And if I don’t want to do them on any given day, then why force myself to do them?  That would be kind of like…forcing myself to eat….or forcing myself to not eat.

 Yeah yeah yeah, I know.  Easier said than done, right?  But, I believe I’m at least half way there already.  And that’s a start.