When you get out of your way ...

So, I have not been very active on the blog. I like to sit and think about what I did and write it down here from time to time. I do how ever jot thoughts in my personal journal as well. The truth is I have been more regularly active and focused on getting active more than ever in my life. The more I stopped worrying about writing about it on the blog, the more I was able to focus on it. Lee told me yesterday or in class that the goal was to help us realize that. 

Well, I will write when I can. The world may or may not be watching. However, I move everyday with the knowledge that whether I write or not, I must keep moving forward!

Internal debates

I woke up today morning with an internal dialogue about where to go to gym or not. It was an interesting thing to debate about - it was cold out and warm in. I have been sleeping later so, I did want to sleep in better. I think the bright side persuaded and won. I woke up and went to the gym. I have noticed my self wanting to do more things. I rode a heavy trail today on the bike. After that, I have started using weights to stretch my legs out. Today i also started some other things. It is a greater feeling to be active! Thankful! and Calmer.

Life style changes vs. Diet changes

Last night, we had supervision in our Aspire Clinic practicum class. We had a very interesting session where our therapy viewing team did a reflecting team with one of the clients. Because there was equipment malfunctioning, we went inside the room to sit with the client and the therapist to provide the feedback. 

During the feedback process, I learned a lot about myself, my life, and how I can use the sharing sessions for my own growth and benefit. Kayla spoke about the difference between people's choices to go on a diet or different diets or different things they would like to try but fail to make a life style change that is comparable with the change they hope to make. In other words, instead of making choices that are different, what if people made life style choices that make desirable choices more attainable? And may be such choices you make will be around you for the long term. 

This was interesting to me. We often tell clients to make changes to their schedule, work out more often, and other homeworks. How much are we influencing their lifestyle changes? Is it ethical to influence such changes in their lives? Exercise and the decision to be conscious of your own behavior and how that relates to your wellbeing is the start of a life style change. One is automatically committing to a greater sense of awareness and investment from one's own part to make exercise work. 

What are the cascades of changes that one can expect from it? What other changes can you make in your overall life style to be better take care of yourself? Are there rules that successful people who commit to a healthy life style follow? If so, what are these rules? I know a friend who has a reward system. She will not eat sweets or related items during the week but one week on Friday, she would do it. I realized this is similar to rules we all can develop about exercising and taking care of ourselves. So, has this assignment helped each one of us think more about lifestyle changes overall or change in one particular behavior?   

Morning ride and evening yoga

I woke up at 545 today and went to the gym for a 6.37 mile ride on the Expresso bike. The bike has special obstacle courses that you ride through. I have been doing this for a while but more consistently recently. In the morning, two friends also joined me - which was nice. The day was particularly stressful - mostly job related stresses and timing issues. I decided to go for the 530 yoga class. I must say, I was sweating as much as I did when I was on my big ride in the morning on the bike. It was a challenge. It calmed me down and centered me. A lot of what I was able to do today was part of what happened yesterday in supervision. I will speak about that in the next blog.

I want to be able to do Yoga more often. Years ago, I was a student of yoga theoretically. It really helped me understand the ancient wisdom of Yogi's who meditated for decades and were able to discover aspects of human life and human brain and body that neuroscience is uncovering today.

How hard can this be?

I see Lee's point about how non linear and unpredictable change is. It almost makes me feel like how do people change at all? I thought it will become clearer by the end of this class - but it just opened up pandoras box for me as to what really entails change. We expect our clients to do well in the midst of their already dramatic lives. When we ourselves are dealing with so much, it is hard to stay focused on the issue of change. Personally, it is quiet easy when we cave in to all the other demands and the first thing we chose to do it cut this out of the way. It's like when governments cut funds, they usually cut education or mental health investments to make up for losses. We prohibit our capacity to learn and keep ourselves sane by giving up on working out or exercising.

mornings?

So, I tried a morning routine today. I went directly to the gym the first thing in the morning. I felt refreshed and good but during the day I did feel a a lot more tired than usua. It is around 953 right now and I am already feeling the effects of it and i am ready to sleep. I guess that is a good thing overall because it forces me to go to sleep early and then wake up early too I guess. I have a talk I have to give tomorrow. Hopefully exercise will help me in the morning to focus, recall, be less anxious, and more focused during my talk.

Continued journeys ...

I have not stopped exercising at all. I have been more regular at it than I have ever been in my life. Consistency has been super. The trouble is trying to get it done in the morning. After a small bike accident, I had to take a few days off from intense running. However, I did walk almost every day. It still goes on in a positive manner.