Opportunism

When gyms, studios and other fitness groups offer you free trials. TAKE THEM! 

Push all of those excuses to the back of your mind, to the bottom of your stomach, down to the ground and keep it there! If people look at you, who cares? If you're not flexible, so what? 

Use the class, the three days, the week, and (if you're lucky) the month (!) to kick yourself into gear and create better habits. Make sure you ask questions and accept all the help that is offered to you. Try a ton of gyms in the span of three months if you have to, but do it. You'll find a teacher that you like, a new format that you love and hopefully start a trend in your life that you won't want to lose. 

The only thing that you should make sure you do, is consult your doctor, listen to the instructor and don't try to compare yourself to anybody else in those locations. Comparison can boost your ego,  or break it. Boosting your ego in this way is hurtful to the other person, and if your ego gets insulted, you might not continue the original good habits. Injury can happen when you over work yourself, as well. So, take it easy and go at a good pace that's gentle with where you are in life. 

I personally joined yogaglo.com recently. I love the teachers there. I was offered a 15 day free trial, and I am going to keep their services. They have 30 minute sessions that, after completing, feel fantastic! It's better then doing nothing, and I don't even have to leave the house! I also have a gym membership, but due to an injury I abandoned the gym for three months and now my toddler will not be left at the baby center without a huge melt down. That is not an excuse to cease attendance, but for now, it's keeping me from the gym. 

Yes, there is a potential that you will buy into the membership, but is that bad? YES! It's bad if you never go. You are literally just throwing money down the fitness-center drain. Don't buy new gym clothes (maybe a new pair of shoes if you're running), don't buy "cool accessories" or a new yoga mat, just go in your pj's if you have to, but go! Do it for your health, and your sanity. I hope I don't have to list the tons of empirical evidence that support exercise (in any form) as beneficial. But if so just: go here. 

If you care about your well being, be an opportunist and use the free trials at all the fitness centers near you! Good luck, and may you find the fitness center that keeps you feeling fit and healthy. 

New beginnings

It's easy to engulf yourself into projects, activities, people, and (in my case) your children. They're new, need attention and are interesting. Unfortunately, the new and interesting never fades when you're dealing with a child. They keep growing and learning subjects and surprising you at every second! A word they learned a few months ago, like "pattern," pops out of their little mouths and you are amazed! 

    The other issue with that is that you lose part of yourself and your goals due to the new demands that are required for this new introduction to your life. There has to be a balance between the devotion you set for your new interest. Of course, offspring can not be compared to a project, or activity. Your children are part of you, and your life. They are your morning, noon and night in a sense. 

     So many people complain about feeling sucked dry by their children, friends, or activities. It's not due to an outside force. Independence from this belief is experienced after you can identify how engrossed you have become. That's never easy, it always happens too late! 

Here are some points that will help identify if this new interest is causing you to ignore your needs:

1. How often do you think of this project, activity or person. (It's not possible to stop thinking about your child, so I'm not including that). Is it an obsession? 

2. Do you maintain normal hygiene. Like, brush your hair? Change your clothes? Shower?

3. Are your old habits and interests the same? 

4. Are you neglecting that things that make you you? Avoiding things you love, because you have no time? 

These are four things that I have identified in myself. That's why I'm putting them out there. If you can think of any other ones, feel free to comment. I stopped working out, putting on makeup, dancing, and even listening to music. I obsess over finding new learning methods and activities for my child. It's not healthy. 

I'm going to start to focus on me, where my anatomy, yoga, and health are top priorities as of today.