Well it happened again. Tears unexpectedly streaming down my face in the Steam Sauna. The euphoric feeling of complete balance, which leads to feelings of peace, love, contentment, gratitude. This is what I have been missing out on these last 6 months of not working out. This is the feeling I forget when I am not exercising.
I am not sure if this feeling is easy to achieve by just working out though. I am not even sure if I would compare it to the runners high or the endorphin rush one receive from adrenaline. This completeness never came to me until I started combining different elements into my workout- namely Swimming! ( Now I understand why people like Triathalons- there is a magic in combining running, swimming, and cycling.) I am not even sure if this feeling comes to others when they are swimming. I think it has to do more with connecting to your inner self.
I have always loved to swim. When I was a child I could never get enough of the water. Maybe this was my universe speaking to me, telling me that I would find meditation and peace there. Then came the love of the Ocean. But not until I moved to California (thank you year-round-outdoor lap lanes) did I discover the peace that came from Swimming on a regular basis. Feeling my muscles push through the water, focusing on my breathing, I would zone out and feel as I was almost one with nature. I could hear the birds speaking to me and the smell the scent of the outdoors. I would find myself often moved to tears with gratitude and this overwhelming sense of peace.
Today it happened again and I look forward to it happening more and more.
I challenge all of you to not just work out for losing weight, for a ripped body, or even for "optimal health", but to work out to connect with your inner self. To say that you have achieved a balance that is unexplainable. Maybe this is why Yoga, Pilates, or Martial Arts has been a popular form of meditaion.
This could possibly come about from other means as well, not just exercise. I know Heavenly Father has given us all talents or interests, that when pursued, while enrich our lives and fill our souls with joy and love (so lets not bury our talents!)
So Thankyou Swimming Pools! Thank you Lifetime Fitness (3 Bath towels and a hand towel later!), Thank you Lizza for making me sign-up, Thank you to Rob who knows how important this is for me, and Thanks to My Heavenly Father for giving me a capable body.
I am not sure if this feeling is easy to achieve by just working out though. I am not even sure if I would compare it to the runners high or the endorphin rush one receive from adrenaline. This completeness never came to me until I started combining different elements into my workout- namely Swimming! ( Now I understand why people like Triathalons- there is a magic in combining running, swimming, and cycling.) I am not even sure if this feeling comes to others when they are swimming. I think it has to do more with connecting to your inner self.
I have always loved to swim. When I was a child I could never get enough of the water. Maybe this was my universe speaking to me, telling me that I would find meditation and peace there. Then came the love of the Ocean. But not until I moved to California (thank you year-round-outdoor lap lanes) did I discover the peace that came from Swimming on a regular basis. Feeling my muscles push through the water, focusing on my breathing, I would zone out and feel as I was almost one with nature. I could hear the birds speaking to me and the smell the scent of the outdoors. I would find myself often moved to tears with gratitude and this overwhelming sense of peace.
Today it happened again and I look forward to it happening more and more.
I challenge all of you to not just work out for losing weight, for a ripped body, or even for "optimal health", but to work out to connect with your inner self. To say that you have achieved a balance that is unexplainable. Maybe this is why Yoga, Pilates, or Martial Arts has been a popular form of meditaion.
This could possibly come about from other means as well, not just exercise. I know Heavenly Father has given us all talents or interests, that when pursued, while enrich our lives and fill our souls with joy and love (so lets not bury our talents!)
So Thankyou Swimming Pools! Thank you Lifetime Fitness (3 Bath towels and a hand towel later!), Thank you Lizza for making me sign-up, Thank you to Rob who knows how important this is for me, and Thanks to My Heavenly Father for giving me a capable body.
3 comments:
I truly wish I felt this way about working out. Maybe I just haven't found the perfect combination yet. Or maybe it's because I can't really swim. :)
The closest I've come is yoga. I just wish there was someplace closer to me where I could go regularly. I'm currently going to pilates at our church building on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, but I can't say it's very relaxing since Elijah and everyone else's kids are running around the gym!
april,
wow, how great to read that. I was almost brought to tear b/c I know there is a chi, a balance and I am so not there.
I keep thinking oh yeah I'll mop the floor, put the kids to bed then there will be peace. But that's really when my day is the bubsiest. when I can gather thoughts and focus on the 7 broken things in every room that need fixing, that My 10 month olds scrap book isnt even purchased let alone pic;s printed or done!!!! blah blah blah. not to rant. I really love my life. ben is out of school we have an actually cash flow,(cash trickle) instead of it just backing up. We love where we live, we love his job, I tihnk now we just need to get out of student debt so I can hire a cleaning maid and soem one to do my laundry. then seriously I'm good.
Maybe then my peace will come.
I have to say with my first 1/2 marathon I really felt the nliss, and zing of a runners high. with this last one . .I just felt old.
I tihnk too when you find your combination it might not be a forever combination. but isnt that true with all things. espcially in the gospel. We find problems to our trials, we amke things right again and then new different trial with new answers come,
what is the saying . .when your content beware of trials?? something like that.
April I am so happy for you that you can cry and recognize those wonderful peaceful times, I m happy you have them, I really love exercising to, and its not about fat content, or size 8 jeans, or not getting cancer, its just medicinal for me.
thanks for the post
It is totally medicinal!! Everyone needs a time to meditate each day and I thik swimming isolates me(from James and others) and relaxes me enough to feel inspiration and peace.
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