Holistic Exercise

I love a good intense workout, pushing myself to my limits - I feel strong and unstoppable! But, to be able to perform at a high exercise intensity as a 48 year old woman I understand that exercise doesn't have to be intense all the time. This is the key to achieving longevity in exercise performance.

A holistic approach to health must also extend to our exercise routine. You know those times of the month when you're feeling like you weigh a tonne, are bloated, or when you're feeling overwhelmed, had a poor nights sleep, or tired at the end of a long day and have taken yourself to your exercise class and after the warm up, your energy levels are still low. It’s during these times your more likely to lack form and increase your risk of injury - doing yourself more harm than good. The focus here should be to workout at a lower intensity with a focus on form and breath work.

Try including a variety of different exercises (walking, Pilates, stretching classes, meditation) into your routine that support and nourish your body during times it needs a little more TLC. Learn to be more mindful and fair to your body choosing the right exercise intensity for your session so that you're body receives what it needs.

Remember, the benefits of exercise are beyond gains to physical fitness or weight loss, they extend to mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. So when we take a holistic approach to our exercise sessions we play an active role in nourishing our bodies to build better immunity, decrease inflammation, mental health, fat mobilisation, stress reduction, metabolic efficiency and weight loss.

What does your exercise routine look like? Do you always approach your workout with an all or nothing attitude? Is your everyday response to life, work, relationships always a 'fight - flight response'? Are you experiencing autoimmune conditions? Are you mindful of your stress levels? Do you struggle to slow down and allow yourself to 'rest'? Are you constantly feeling so exhausted after your day or workout session that you just want to go to bed rather than replenish?

Our response to exercise is a reflection of our approach to many other aspects of our life that affect our health? Can you see the link?

Everything is connected, everything needs to be balanced.

Try adopting a holistic approach to your exercise routine and feel the difference.

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