Turkish Belly Dancer, Istanbul, Turkey

Everyone knows the benefits of exercise. The media has commercialized this so much that there is constant advertisement on exercise equipment, gyms, weight loss clinics, dietary pills, detox sessions, fitness monitors, calorie counters and other money-making fads. All of these profit the merchant more than the “exerciser”. How funny that in today’s world, exercise is a “necessity” because we have been too comfortable as couch potatoes and rely on our devices that limit movement. There is too much computerization of both body and brain!

In the Grecian or Egyptian times or even as far back as the Inca times, man always had to move.  There were no cars, no chairlifts, no elevators, and no computers. Man walked everywhere and making 10,000 steps every day was a leisurely pace for him. He had to carry heavy loads which are today’s equivalent of “working out” in the gym, weightlifting several kilograms of lead weight. I am amazed at the varied monuments that man fashioned and built in those days! The Renaissance period flourished artistically as depicted by the enormous sculptures, magnificent paintings and architectural buildings that were constructed. I am very happy to admire and appreciate all the grandeur created.

One wonders how all these could have been built with the minimum amount of tools. Our body is a muscle that requires movement. Our brain is a huge muscle that needs mental challenges. Otherwise, we become limp. We become lethargic. In essence, we become like a vegetable, handicapped by all our electronics and machines.

You say “I do not have the time.” I think you must make the time, even at least ten minutes a day. The best time would be rising at least ten minutes earlier every morning and doing some stretching. It will be tough to start so you will need to be SELF-MOTIVATED, to have POSITIVE THOUGHTS. There is a lot of ENERGY you will gain from exercising.

The beta-endorphins (endogeneous morphine) are opioid neuropeptides (see figure below) produced by the brain and released during exercise, delivering a feel good attitude. Your muscles will liberate any tension and you will feel exhilarated to begin a new day.

In addition, as you see yourself in the mirror, reciting your MAGIC 10 is an added bonus to the POWER from POSITIVE THINKING. This refreshes you, ready for any work or activities you have planned for your day!

There are many types of exercises you can select from but make sure you ENJOY and HAVE FUN during exercise. I like dancing to the rhythm of whatever music is being played while I do my boxing workout or my fitness exercises. I love to do Zumba and PiYo classes as the music carries me into a cadence unparalleled by other sports. Swimming is my favorite and while I do my laps back and forth, I also do my creative thinking. It is during this time I think about developing a new chemical product by a different way or solving a manufacturing process problem. I have been successful doing this because I turned the work into play, just like when I used to invent toys or games when I was a child. My mind is free and unobstructed and my brain is getting all the mental stimulus it needs to evaluate and assess any situation I may have to deal with. I also like to vary my work-out so I spend time in the gym doing the fitness routines and yoga. It is more fun to work out in a group than to be alone and this “social gathering” by exercising together can create friendships and networking.

I am sure you are saying: “But it is not easy to get in to the groove.” Here are simple steps and tactics:

1.) You and your brain are the only ones who can motivate yourself. You are your own trainer!

So think positively and include EXERCISE as one of your Magic 10 positive thoughts. No one can motivate nor push you.

2.) Select the type of activity you want to pursue.

If you have not exercised before at all, go to the gym and try out their fitness programs. You should do a program that you enjoy doing! Search the internet for workouts you would like to do. There is really no need to go to the gym, just self-motivation on your part!

3.) After making a decision on a fitness regimen, write down the EXERCISE TIME on your schedule and stick to it!

If you do not write it down, you will have many excuses for missing the fitness class. It is very important to put this on your daily schedule. It should be like an appointment you cannot miss!

4.) Start slowly and know your limits. It is important to begin with a workout that you can do.

Be careful not to exceed your body’s strengths. Never compare yourself to others. Everyone in the gym actually supports each one as they perform the exercises together.

5.) Prepare a workout plan. 

This means that you should list the number and type of workouts you plan to do, including the progressive exercises you will be doing as you get stronger. You have to challenge yourself to more difficult routines as you become more fit.

6.) Increase the amount of time for exercise as you tone and also increase the number of repetitions for a given time.

I started swimming freestyle doing one 25 yard lap without stopping. The next day, I swam two laps and so on, until I swam one mile. I continued swimming one mile but swam faster every day in order to get my time down.

7.) Set a goal to achieve. Do not be too ambitious in thinking you can be fit right away.

I started to take yoga two years ago and was very tight. I did the poses but did not force myself if I felt that I could get hurt. In fact, I still cannot do the lotus pose (the Buddha sitting pose) so for this pose, I have a five-year plan to get to it. I do not compare myself to other people in the room. I am not embarrassed either if I cannot do the pose just yet.

8.) Make exercise a part of your lifestyle. 

You will gain muscle weight, lose fat and increase physical vigor and brain focus. You will have a positive attitude. You will always feel invigorated. You will have all the POSITIVE ENERGY directed in the right path in every thing you do and success and happiness will easily come your way!

9.) Reward yourself.

This means maybe buying a new outfit one or two sizes down! Treat yourself to a Broadway show. Go on a trip. You will be magical!

EXERCISE FOR POWER THINKING! POSITIVE THOUGHTS…POSITIVE RESULTS…

Even before my kids were born, I already made it my goal to make sure that they would exercise as a daily part of their lives, that exercise will be just like a regular routine for them like eating. When my kids were still babies, I took them swimming at six months till three years of age and thereon, they had swimming classes at the local YMCA. When they were preschoolers, I took them every Saturday to a roller skating class because they woke up early and one of us had to be up to take care of them. The benefit is that they learned how to roller skate very well and when they were in kindergarten, they helped their classmates who did not know how to roller skate. This gave them a boost in self-confidence, social and leadership skills and athletic abilities. I also roller skated with them so that I too had my exercise. This made us bond very well. My kids, now adults, still exercise everyday, even doing ironman and triathlon competitions! I am very proud of my son who finished 17th overall and 3rd in his under 30 age bracket in the New York Triathlon!

So you see, EXERCISE nurtures POSITIVE ENERGY…POSITIVE THINKING…POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS…OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK…

Have you felt better mentally after exercising? Have you felt all your tensions and anger released after exercising? You are also taking care of your body and your brain. Being healthy instills positive thoughts and alleviates negative thinking.

DANCE like the belly dancer…tap dancer…ballet dancer…

SWIM like the dolphin…

LEAP…PRANCE…FROLIC…GALLOP…RUN…PIROUETTE…SKIP…STRETCH…JUMP…BOOGY…WALTZ…TROT

EXERCISE IS A FUN-OUT, not really a work-out! Release those endorphins!

You increase BRAIN POWER from EXERCISE. Your HEALTH will improve!

POWER THINKING from EXERCISE!