I’ve had balance on my mind lately, so we’re working it with the calf raises and the squat heel lift. Three rounds.
ball to knee | 30 |
calf raises | 20 |
quadruped lateral raise | 10 |
| |
squat heel lift | 30 |
kickbacks | 20 |
db pullover with bridge | 10 |
| |
plank jacks | 30 |
good morning/deadlift | 20 |
pretty prinesses | 10 |
1. love
2. joy
3. peace
4. patience
5. kindness
6. goodness
7. faithfulness
8. gentleness
9. self-control
Add your own!
The final gift I’m giving myself this month is self-control. I mean this in multiple ways.
First, there is the aspect of self-control expressed in my motor skills. I want to move mindfully, to integrate complex motions into a coordinated whole.
Second, I want to manage my emotions. Working out, because of the way our bodies hold emotion, can get hairy from time to time. We work stuff out when we work out, and that can be a challenge. I want to feel my feelings and also I want to express them in healthy and kind ways. That’s a self-control task!
Finally, I want to use my self-control to maintain my healthy habits of work and eating and rest.
Anybody else want this gift?
Gentleness might not seem like the most obvious gift in a fitness context. I mean, we’ve all heard “go hard or go home” and similar sayings. And yes, I am going to work hard when I work out.
Even so, the attitude I bring needs to be gentle. My body is not there to be punished, but to be loved. When I am working to my limit, I need to be gentle with myself because that is hard stuff. I would never yell at a client, so why would I yell at myself when I don’t quite measure up to my own expectations?
Gentle encouragement makes the difference so many times.
What is gentle in your workouts?
We’re working a lot of different things in this short circuit. Pace yourself! Four rounds.
1 min cardio | |
| |
squat raise | 30 |
flies | 20 |
burpees | 10 |
suitcase swings | 30 |
1 leg deadlift | 20 |
plank/side plank | |
Ways to be faithful in workouts:
1. Show up daily.
2. Practice good form.
3. Be a good workout buddy.
The gift of faithfulness in workouts is a huge one. When we show up regularly to our workouts, change happens. When we commit to the habit of movement, we really see results. So giving myself the gift of faithfulness is giving my future self a healthier, happier body.
What could be better?
