Yes, I exercised today.
Twenty minutes of yoga first thing in the morning. After
only a few days of this routine, I am feeling stronger in my feet muscles, and
have noticed I have better balance. Yoga is easier every day: the tree pose,
the cobra, downward dog, and the rest.
Just a few days of exercise, and no more teetering as I stand and raise one bended leg, rest my foot on the side of the opposite knee, and raise my hands in
the air, pretending I am a tree. Trees do not teeter. They may sway, in a wind,
but they are firmly grounded. I am a tree. With yoga, I am fully grounded, and
stronger.
I have also been remembering, during the rest of the day, to
keep an eye out for an exercise opportunity. Watching a three-hour movie on TV
becomes a chance to do occasional leg lifts. It helps even to just lift one leg in the air and swing the foot up and around in a circle, first in one direction, and then in the
reverse. A couple of times every hour that I am seated, I simply raise one of my feet, six to twelve inches up off the ground, and twirl my ankle, drawing circles in the air with my big toe.
Then I switch and move the other foot. So simple, but it really makes a
difference in fitness.
Sitting down all day and not moving can kill you, according
to the latest research. Move a muscle, any muscle, even if just a little bit,
every time you think about it.
The best thing about daily exercise is feeling better about
daily exercise.
An increase in hope for the future is a nice benefit, too. I
went shopping today and looked at clothes that do not fit - a little too small, but
stylish - and thought of my new-found dedication to fitness, and I was filled with
hope that, by next Christmas, I may find that Santa delivers what I want.
I want
to feel good and healthy.