What’s up with everyone
hating to exercise all of a sudden? Exercise
was at one time the coolest thing to do.
People went to the gym, had personal trainers and even went to exercise
classes like Pilates, yoga or aerobics.
Now
It’s like the whole country has become anti-exercise. But I live in the world
of exercise. It’s my job to exercise and
help people get healthy and fit. I start exercising in my teens for fun and I
liked it so much I made it my career to help people get fit and take care of
their bodies.
When I was a kid someone once told me – “you
only get one body your whole life, so you’d better take care of it.” That
statement stayed with me all these years. Remember when we were kids and we
went out side to play with a ball?
Remember how much fun it was to throw that ball around, play soccer or
dodge ball or monkey in the middle? (Okay maybe monkey in the middle was too
much fun). That was exercise and no one
had to tell us it was good for us. We just got out there and did it, because it
was fun.
I‘d like to interest you
in a ball again. I’d like to show you
all the fun things you can do with a ball and I won’t even call it exercise.
But this ball will need to be sat on and move around on, so it’s best if you
get a ball that is about 65 centimeters around.
Let’s begin with reasons
people don’t exercises.
- It’s
boring. Try this, sit on your ball and bounce up and down like you are on a
trampoline. It’s not boring it’s
quite fun and I’m quite certain no one can bounce on a ball without
smiling and getting their heart rate up at the same time. You’re moving
your body and working your legs but it doesn’t feel like work at all. It’s
simple and fun!
- I’m
injured. This type of ball supports my back
and allows me to move without over extending my back or slouching. It helps my body open up and realign so
that my injury will heal. Try sitting on a ball at home and notice how
nice and straight your spine feels. Eventually this will lead to feeling
better and then you will be able to become more active.
- It’s
too expensive to join a gym or get a personal trainer.
Buy a Pilates ball. The cost is about $10 to $20 or so. One session with an
instructor to show you how to use your ball, it will cost you about
$50. This is your health you are
investing in. Of course I recommend getting a professional to get you
started but the truth is once you know what to do, you won’t always
require an instructor. You can do
it yourself.
- I
have no time. How long does it take
you to have a shower in the morning?
Get up ten minutes earlier and stretch for three minutes with your
ball. Bounce for 3 minutes on your
ball, which will bring your heart rate up and help you burn calories. Do a
few strengthening exercises for your core and back and at the end do one
minute of some type of deep breathing over the ball to cool down. Mission accomplished. And the rest of
the day I promise you will feel amazing.
- I’m
too old, fat, out of shape, tired etc.
You are never too old, or out of shape to start moving your body. Any time it a good time to begin. You
just have to decide that you are going to do it. As for being tired, you’re feeling tired
because you don’t move your body enough.
Once you start moving you will feel great. Your breath will
increase, drawing more oxygen into your blood, which moves through your
entire body oxygenating your cells. Our bodies are machines and they are
designed for movement. You’ll think
better and have more creativity when you write, simply because more oxygen
is getting to your brain.
To
sum it all up I use this type ball at home to sit on in front of my desk. When
I’m writing and I can’t think about what to say, I bounce on my ball for a few
minutes. I also use it to stretch, bounce and move my body in all sorts of fun
and interesting ways. And presto! I can think more clearly! It’s like being a kid again and if I love it
so will you. So who wants to play ball?
Michelle Jay has recently taken
up writing her memoirs, but she’s been studying fitness since 1989 when she
started martial arts training. In 1996, she and her husband Ian Jay opened the
doors of his martial arts school, The Mississauga Academy of Martial Arts.
Michelle
is also a Pilates instructor, She enjoys teaching and working with all types of
clients, including new mother’s cyclists, runners, martial arts and anyone who
desires to be fit and healthy. For more information check out her Website here.
See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
