The word “exercise” strikes fear in the most unexpected of hearts. Driven executives. Successful entrepreneurs. Multitasking super moms. Take-no-prisoners deal makers. The most fearless among us are sometimes taken DOWN by the mere mention of exercise or physical activity.
Even I – an exercise junkie – struggle with exercise fear on occasion. Like last night, when the anxiety manifesting in my stomach was almost enough to keep me from my spin class. (Almost.) And a week or so ago when I went for my first lap swim in probably 25 years (seriously). Water is scary. Just sayin’.
Whatever the reason…whatever the excuse…whatever the very-well-thought-out and perfectly valid, by the way, avoidance technique you’ve conjured in your head, I have a suggestion:
Replace FEAR with CURIOSITY.
Be a scientist. Be an observer. Be a BEGINNER.
WHAT IF I went for a walk around the block?
WHAT IF I trained for a 5K?
WHAT IF I hopped in the pool?
WHAT IF I tried a Pilates or yoga class?
WHAT IF I went for a bike ride?
WHAT IF…?
Curiosity makes it all a little less threatening. No performance goal. No expectations. Just “Hmmm…this is interesting. My breath is getting more labored. My heart is beating faster. My fingers and toes feel a little hot. My calves feel a bit tight. Hmmm…my left side is stronger then my right. I wonder why I feel like I’m working harder tonight than usual. Huh. Weird. What’s gonna happen next?”
Oh yeah…and don’t forget to breathe.
“Fear is excitement without the breath.” -Fritz Perls, MD
