Most of the time when we think about exercising we think of vigorous movement, hard-hitting, heel-pounding, loud-drumming, adrenaline-pulsing barely-controlled chaos. Sometimes I like that. Sometimes there is nothing I want to do more than punch something, and look great doing it. Perhaps with a kicking soundtrack. Sometimes that is the best thing in the world. But, the other 75 percent of my time I am really not so into it. I've decided to focus today on how that is OK. We don't all have to be intensely driven adrenaline junkies to be fit. Long walks are very good for you. Think about riding a bike around the neighborhood like you did when you were a kid - for fun and in an explanatory spirit - instead of pursuing a target heart rate like an obsession. I am going to walk to my local exercise-display park today, but instead of sticking to the fast track, in competition with the other walkers, runners, cyclists, and people who are exercising for the sake of being seen exercising, I am going to listen to my most melancholy playlist on my ipod, and explore the woodland paths. And take my time doing it.
In this spirit, I have decided to look into Tai Chi. Why not raise your consciousness while lowering your resting pulse?
I was looking around on my Netflix account for an instant play Tai Chi video, and couldn't find one I could try. But I did come across a workout video I hadn't tried before, hosted by Ellen Barrett who is one of my fav instructors. I have done her Pilates videos a lot, and I generally really like them, but they don't exactly fall into a quiet pensive afternoon. This one did! It is a Crunch video, called Super SlimDown, and I loved it! It was not so stressful and sweaty as workout videos generally are (and on the flip side of the coin, it wasn't a total wussy waste of time either). Highly recommended!
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