Exercise is self-nurturing.

Yes! It really is!  However, in my coaching practice I discourage my clients from including exercise as part of their self-nurture challenge until they are able to get beyond equating exercise with punishment.  Let’s face it, most people hate exercise and self-nurture is about doing things that you love.

I am here to tell you that it is possible to turn exercise into a beautiful, loving, self-nurturing activity.

Realize that your body is an amazing machine that works hard to keep you functioning.  A lot of people take care of their cars much better than they take care of themselves, but I know that’s not you, right?! Of course not!

When I learned to tune into my body at the gym, wow!, did my workouts change and so did my results!

As you workout you do want to push yourself to get the results that you are after, but while you are pushing yourself, you are doing so in a coaching manner.  You can have a difficult workout, but not in an ugly, degrading and/or punishing kind of way.  Your thoughts want to be more from a place of encouragement and celebrate your improvement even in the smallest way.

But here is where it really changed for me when I discovered Supta Baddha Konasana, a restorative yoga pose.

After my workouts I lay in this restorative pose and really tune into my body allowing myself to feel the work that I just did.  And while doing so, I think about all the different systems at work, I imagine the new muscle being created along with excess fat and toxins  being discarded and flushed out of my body.  While I’m visualizing and meditating on all of this, I move into a spirit of gratitude and thank my body for all that it does for me and for the work that it just did, and reaffirm my body and self that I will continue taking good care of me because I love me.

No matter where I am exercising, at home or in the middle of a busy gym, I will take 5-10 minutes for Supta Baddha Konasana.

Girlfriends, this is such a powerful technique.  I encourage you to try it and watch how a shift about exercise begins to take place.  And, overtime, watch your results improve!

Are you ready to add exercise to your self-nurture practice?

Stay tuned for how to use Supta Baddha Konasana a different way that will make you feel like a queen!

Click =>Join the 90 Day Challenge

Here I sit in the middle of Starbucks sipping my favorite latte, listening to beautiful music … just being … allowing thoughts to come and go … mostly go as I release them onto the pages of my journal.

Release. It’s so important to release the pressures of life. We need to release the stress, the tensions, the worries that tend to build up inside of us. Yes, unless we have a way to let it all go, to release, the “stuff” gets stuck in our bodies causing all kinds of havoc.

Right now, my dear reader, stop. Take a minute or two right now and just stop what you’re doing. Get quiet, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Check in with yourself. Go inside and ask yourself how you’re doing right now in the moment.

What’s the very first answer that comes to your mind? Don’t judge it, accept it whatever it is.

Got your answer? Ok, here we go again. Ready? Take another deep breath. This time ask yourself right now, in the moment… “What do I need?” What’s the very first answer that comes to your mind? Don’t judge it, accept it whatever it is.

With your eyes still closed take another deep breath and just be. Revel in the moment of being.

Release. It’s so important to release the pressures of life.

Now, I challenge you to do whatever it is your body is telling you it needs. Honor yourself, love yourself, give yourself the tender loving care that you so deserve.

Below is a 5 – 10 minute yoga routine that I do daily. It’s a simple, quick way to release the pressures of life. Once you learn this simple routine you can practice it in quietness if you like or set it to relaxing music. For me, it releases the pressures of life, gives me energy yet relaxes me, and it puts a bounce in my step. It’s been known to give me warm fuzzies even! Really! ☺

Give it a try and let me know how it makes you feel.  Remember, take the time to release the pressures of life.  The results will amaze you.