What is considered a workout and what are we trying to keep away? Tag along as I try to explain the enormous impact a little physical activity i.e workouts can have on our hectic and stressful lives. So a short disclaimer: I am no physical exercise expert nor a degree holder in psychology, and the secrets I am letting you in on are only insights I have gained from personal experience and well, common sense.
Let us have a look at what I mean by ‘the bad stuff.’ Simply put anything that leaves you feeling pessimistic or not up to the weather. For me, that included lack of sleep, low self-esteem, bad skin texture, and also the fact that I was unable to turn off my thoughts. The lack of control over my life was quite evident and not pleasing to the eye or the heart.
Why take action? Check out the answer here.
To counter all the things going wrong in life I found an effective solution: workouts. Now I know many of you think of workouts as long hours at the gym, running until you cannot anymore, and twisting your body into pretzel-like shapes i.e. yoga. Well, that is not the essence of it at all.
What I want to suggest is easy and effective. Takes around half an hour or less, costs you nothing, and has the option of catering to various circumstances. What I have for you are a few activities you can integrate into your life and observe change firsthand.
Here are the workouts that have helped me change:
Workout # 1: Walks
a. Walk at home
This is actually a brand with its own mobile application and website that you can check out here. However, you can find free videos on Youtube ranging from 15 minutes to 1 hour. I, being a good procrastinator, have never made it past 20 minutes but I assure you that the time is highly enjoyable. It leaves you energized, active, and most importantly happy. And all you have to do is follow a video!
b. Walk on physically available space
I would recommend this to anyone who has a garden, rooftop, or hallway. Place your phone down, put on your comfy shoes, and walk alone for 15 minutes. Believe me, you will feel the change immediately after you are done. Relaxing your mind and allowing your body to burn energy at an easy pace is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Workout # 2: Yoga
Yoga is not about how flexible you are or what poses you can or cannot do. It is all about stretching your muscles, controlling the breath, and completing a yoga workout successfully. The two YouTube channels I can recommend are SarahBethYoga and Yoga with Kassandra. I have tried both of them and find the videos short, easy to follow, and fun. 15 to 20 minutes of daily yoga workouts is the next step to a healthier mind and lifestyle. So roll out your yoga mats and have fun!
Also, have a look at Power Yoga- Lose Weight, Gain Peace for more on yoga workouts.
Remember:
Health is not about the weight you lose. It’s about the life you gain.
–Natalie’s Health
I tried workouts in the form of walking and yoga. As a result, I sleep well, look healthy, and feel happy. My mind doesn’t overexert itself as much as it used to and that for me is a wonderful achievement.
But I’m sure you all are dubious on whether the formula for healthy living and making ‘the bad stuff’ go away can really be so simple. So you can either take my word for it or find out for yourself by giving half an hour of your day to a workout of your choice. Remember to have fun while you’re at it!
