I’m slightly embarrassed to admit this but yesterday I saw one of those silly Facebook videos going around that had tons of words flashing on it and it instructed, “screenshot this and whichever word you get is your word for 2018.” Well, boredom in the 5-hour long car ride home from North Carolina got to me and I went ahead and screenshotted it. The word I got was “motivated.” I know what you’re thinking — what a load of hullabaloo from some random person with a Facebook account. And if you read, this post you know I didn’t set any New Year resolutions. But bear with me, folks. It got me thinking about motivation and how people often list it as one of their biggest hurdles in developing a yoga or workout routine. I can totally relate — it’s not the burpees or the chaturangas that are the hardest part of attending a class or work out, it’s the actual action of getting up and going to yoga or the gym that’s the hard part.
Have you ever been in the comfiest sweatpants ever, lounging with a good Netflix show and attempted to pry yourself off the couch to make it to yoga? Or have you ever been snuggled in a sea of blankets only to be jostled by your alarm clock to immediately have images of jump squats flash before your eyes? Guys, it’s no wonder motivation is such a challenge. Couches and beds are freaking comfy!! But do you know what else is awesome? Soaking in a beautiful savasana at the end of an awesome yoga class. Realizing you can do more push ups than you could last week. Post workout endorphins. Feeling better about myself and my body. I promise, there’s a lot of goodness that will make you want to hit pause on your Netflix binge.
Endorphins = Happiness
To be honest, when I don’t move my body for awhile I get cranky. My family knows it, I know it. On vacation one year, after some grunt or comment from me, I remember my dad saying, “You should really go for a run or something, it’s been a few days.” And he was right. When we don’t show up for ourselves we can’t show up for other people. Taking time to carve out anything from 10 minutes to an hour of exercise will allow you to actually be there for your people. When you workout, you release endorphins, which make you happy and not snippy to your poor sibling or parent or significant other who just happened to be in the line of fire. I’m motivated to move because I know I’ll be in a better mood when I take that time for myself. I’m nicer, more relaxed, and less anxious. I just feel like a better Morgan, which allows me to be a better friend and family member.
Making Myself Proud
For me, yoga and exercise aren’t about reaching a number on a scale. I get true joy from seeing myself grow and tackling new challenges. It can be any big or little achievement from holding handstand for a few breaths or increasing weights more than I thought I was able to, but dang, even for just that moment I feel proud of myself! We’re all so hard on ourselves all of the time, it’s nice to have those moments of child-like joy, when you just want to say, “Look, Mom, I did it!” It feels good to give yourself a pat on the back, we all need to do it more often. Maybe you’re thinking, “well, Jane Doe can do 20 push ups and she can headstand all day long, so who care’s about my 5 push ups?” I do! You should, too! Yoga and exercise are not about a competition. It’s about feeling your body get stronger, doing things you couldn’t do a year ago, and showing up for yourself. I love when I feel happy for myself. I know I’ll never be the most advanced yogi or lift the heaviest weights but I take time for myself and make sure to smile pretty darn big when I surprise myself with what I can do.
More Self Love
When I’m not moving my body, I don’t feel connected to it. After not moving it for awhile, it begins to become something I look at separate from myself. Unfortunately I begin to feel unhappy with how it looks, compare it to others’ bodies and just feel overall “meh” towards it. When I’m active and moving my body, I feel like connected. I am able to realize that my body supports me, grows with me, pushes through challenges and I respect it much more. I actually want to climb out of my cozy bed in the morning and hop on my yoga mat because I know I’ll start my day feeling one with my body. Move in a way that feels good in your body and that brings you joy. Take pride in how amazing it is. When you are able to truly see all that your body does for you, you are able to love your body and appreciate it for its strength, grace, imperfections and all.
Motivation sounds simple but it’s not. You have to find that thing that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning — being able to show up for your people, tapping into your strength or creating a connection with your amazing body. Whatever it is for you, tap into that. Let that be the first thing you think of when you’re tempted to hit snooze. Imagine how awesome you’ll feel afterwards. Find that workout or instructor that challenges you and shows you grace and makes you smile. Once you have your “why” it’s so much easier to lace up those shoes and get to it. You have all the motivation inside you that you need, all you have to do is acknowledge it.
What’s your motivation? Let me know in the comments below.
x,
Morgan