Exercise

Exercise has been really important to me over the last 3 months - it has definitely brought me Joy.

Exercise defined as "physical activity that you do to make your body strong and healthy", "a series of movements or actions which you do in order to get fit, remain healthy, or practise for a particular physical activity”. 

When I was in my twenties, in 1995, twenty-five years ago, I went overseas to Atlanta where I would go to the gym every day and loved it.  I absolutely loved the step classes.  I loved the whole gym scene.  When I came back to Australia I looked around at different gyms yet my love of gyms was short-lived until my late thirties when I started back at the gym again for a year or two. 

The main Exercise that I have loved and that has brought me so much Joy over my lifetime is running.  I have so many great memories of running where I got into running in 1997 when I started working as an Account Manager for Nestle and I decided to play touch football with some of the other staff at lunchtime.  One day we were jogging up to the field in the City and some other staff asked me to join a relay for a running event.  I said I couldn’t run yet they talked me into it, and so I started to train.  This experience and Relay got me hooked on running and then running became my Exercise and life for about ten years. 

I had a print which is now at my Parent’s house (and will soon make a comeback on my wall here in our home) that has a great quote that is so true for me “Running is a road to self-awareness and reliance. You can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet. But when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, at least for a moment everything seems right with the world.” Doris Brown Heritage

Since being a Mum I have struggled to find the time to Exercise, apart from running around after my two.  I have enjoyed walking where I can, maybe once or twice a week, yet I have been really wanting to get back into Exercise, “at least three times a week” I kept telling myself and trying to plan how I could make this happen.  When I was into running I didn’t have children and I would get up super early and go running, yet with work and being a Mum I have struggled making the time. 

Since being in isolation, I have loved this opportunity to get out each day to Exercise in the fresh air, walking around the block, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and loved hearing the birds sing, and looking at the flowers and trees. 

When I first went into isolation with my children, I wanted to get us all out to Exercise.  One of the first things I did as part of Homeschooling was to do a Treasure Hunt with my children where we wrote lists of things to search for and we went walking around the block.  We had a great time together.

We also had a few walks around the block looking for teddy bears which was fun.  Yet the more times we walked around, and walked past people, I became worried that my children would get sick - and the thought of this scared me so much.  And so then getting out to Exercise has become my time again. 

Now I am setting the goal to get out five times a week.  I think if you “shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” – and so I am happy if I can get out at least 3-4 times a week. 

I started walking yet I then set a goal to run around the block and really enjoy this as my Exercise.   I haven’t made it around the block yet, but I run a bit further each time, and I am really enjoying running.  I then walk for another 20-30 minutes and love being outside - this definitely brings me Joy.  On weekends, similar to before covid, I love going for a walk to a local park which offers a natural bushland and is so relaxing, offering a place where I feel peaceful.

When I get back from my walk I do some star jumps, jogging on the spot, skipping on the spot and jump from side to side - I find this a great way to finish off my Exercise where I feel Joyful and a great satisfaction that I am being active.

My goal for my Exercise is to keep running and walking and to incorporate some other activities including crunches and weights.  I am also keen to find some online dance based Exercise that I can do on the days it is raining.  I just love the call of the outside to Exercise where this will always be my preference - yet it is good to have a Plan B.

Sometimes it is cold and getting dark yet I go outside to Exercise since I know I will love the time doing the Exercise, and I always feel happy with myself and Joyful when I finish my Exercise. 

I also love hearing that my Brother is getting into Exercise and enjoying running with my Niece. 

And I also hope that by making Exercise a priority which is something that brings me Joy that I will also inspire my children through their lives too.