Exercising More Comfortably

You may find that too often you've overdone exercise or work. The result being a feeling of pain, injury or discouragement. This can suggest that you are not listening effectively to your body. We all know that communication is the key to improving relationships. These are ways to develop a great relationship between your mind and body while exercising or working.

1) If you observe that it takes a day or so to realize that you've overdone it, you can factor this in ahead of time. It may mean reducing the intensity or length of your activities by 10 or 20 % so you remain in your range of toleration.

2) Match your expectations to how you feel in the present. If you intended to walk two miles each day, but feel tired or satisfied after one mile, then stop.

3) Pay close attention (listen carefully) to how your body feels during the activity. This gives you immediate feedback and allows you to adapt to moving slower, faster, or smoother as the situation requires.

4) You can warm up and stretch before activities. This is like foreplay, it puts you in the mood and enhances your enjoyment.

5) Start your activity simply and slowly and allow the momentum to build gradually. Smooth action creates harmony.