have you ever suddenly felt like everything you feel, think, or look at is divine? all of sudden you're snapping photographs like there's no tomorrow - and every shot seems to turn out perfectly. that song in the background becomes an omen, filled with meaning and clues. people you meet along the way are just as exciting as where you're going and you're pleasantly distracted by the spontaneous conversations you bump into. this is INSPIRATION. it is when you are one with the moment. it is an enlightened state and extremely full.
yesterday i was visited by inspiration. to me, it's still a mystery - kind of like when someone i love, who's passed on, visits me in a dream - i'm not sure why or how it happens, but i'm so grateful when it does.
so i was in the middle of a 40 minute workout (20 min. circuit below repeated) and was INSPIRED - I thought "I need to let people know that you do NOT need a gym membership to get fit." in fact, you don't need to buy anything except maybe a mat for the floor and maybe some workout clothes. (personally, i find wearing workout clothing puts me in the mood to exercise)
Carly tells me that "everybody" already knows this stuff but i don't believe her so here's the deal:
1) "working out gets easier" - we've all heard this but no one's explained to me why?
Answer:
a) strong muscles enjoy exercising - that's what they do well! it's fun to flaunt what you got so just hang in there!! it will happen. you will get stronger with every effort.
b) ...and guess what, weak muscles enjoy relaxing - that's what THEY do well. :(
c) ENDORPHINS (endogenous morphine) - which are produced / released during exercise - they dull the pain, giving you a natural "high. research is showing that a 20-30 minute workout will activate endorphins.
d) there seems to be a direct link between exercise and increased SEROTONIN. serotonin helps with depression and focus. so…the more serotonin you have, the more you will want to work out! see?
2) you can workout in your garage or house!! you really ONLY need motivation and 10-30 minutes per day.
3) speaking of 10-30 minute workouts, tons of research is being published showing that spending hours on the treadmill or stationary bike does NOT do it people. instead, try "interval training" where you alternate from aerobic and non-aerobic exercises - WITH intensity.
4) if you try a workout and its just TOO HARD, do half of what it calls for - or a third or quarter - whatever it takes to start. build it up from there. i have a pushup workout that calls for 3 different types of pushups, 20 pushups per set - and then you repeat it 3 times - so after about 10-12 minutes, you just did 180 pushups! that was too many for me so i started with 5. now i'm up to 10. see?
5) jump ropes are awesome. get one.
6) you WILL see drastic improvements within 1 year. yes, it will take TIME and consistent investment - but not from your pocketbook - from YOU!
7) many many great workout programs online:
pbfingers.com (http://www.pbfingers.com/2012/01/15/at-home-workouts/)
bodeefit.com (haven't tried this yet, but have heard good things)
just checkout YouTube sometime - there's a gazillion!
8) it's really right at your fingertips and fun once you get into it - the more you do, the better it gets. and then your hooked because you've spent effort and time (not $$ though) and it's a PART OF YOU. that's the secret.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
finally, if you aren't familiar with "For a Dancer" by Jackson Browne - listen to it today. here are the lyrics:
Keep a fire burning in your eye
Pay attention to the open sky
You never know what will be coming down
I don't remember losing track of you
You were always dancing in and out of view
I must have thought you'd always be around
Pay attention to the open sky
You never know what will be coming down
I don't remember losing track of you
You were always dancing in and out of view
I must have thought you'd always be around
Always keeping things real by playing the clown
Now you're nowhere to be found
Now you're nowhere to be found
I don't know what happens when people die
Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear
That I can't sing, I can't help listening
And I can't help feeling stupid standing 'round
Crying as they ease you down
Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear
That I can't sing, I can't help listening
And I can't help feeling stupid standing 'round
Crying as they ease you down
'Cause I know that you'd rather we were dancing
Dancing our sorrow away
(Right on dancing)
No matter what fate chooses to play
(There's nothing you can do about it anyway)
(Right on dancing)
No matter what fate chooses to play
(There's nothing you can do about it anyway)
Just do the steps that you've been shown
By everyone you've ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own
No matter how close to yours another's steps have grown
In the end there is one dance you'll do alone
By everyone you've ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own
No matter how close to yours another's steps have grown
In the end there is one dance you'll do alone
Keep a fire for the human race
Let your prayers go drifting into space
You never know what will be coming down
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
And just as easily it could all disappear
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Let your prayers go drifting into space
You never know what will be coming down
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
And just as easily it could all disappear
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Don't let the uncertainty turn you around
(The world keeps turning around and around)
Go on and make a joyful sound
(The world keeps turning around and around)
Go on and make a joyful sound
Into a dancer you have grown from a seed somebody else has thrown
Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own
Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own
And somewhere between the time you arrive and the time you go
May lie a reason you were alive but you'll never know
May lie a reason you were alive but you'll never know
