Find Your Fire!

You probably already know the vast benefits of exercise so I won’t go into all of those benefits here, but have you found what works for you? Have you discovered a way to move your body that is invigorating and energizing, rather than something you dread and barely get through? Not all of us will love doing the same sports or fitness regimens, so it’s important to find what you like and will do on a consistent basis. The best kind of exercise is the kind you will actually do! Regularly! The kind of movement that lights a fire in your bones and makes you feel more alive and vibrant – a treat that you look forward to! For someone like me who wasn’t into sports or any kind of fitness, I didn’t even think that was possible!

Here’s what I’ve discovered for myself!

First, I discovered walking! When first diagnosed with cancer, Dr. Taylor recommended a daily 20 walk. Really anything simple that would get me swinging my arms and legs and doing the cross patterning kind of movement. He knew how little time I had, what with raising a family, so didn’t suggest any long workout. I found an aerobics video and enjoyed that when the weather was crummy to walk outside, but walking became something I really looked forward to. It just made me feel better! When one of our daughters raised puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, I walked a dog daily in every kind of weather and loved it! Dogs, friends, podcasts, music – anything to make it enjoyable and something you look forward to!

Around 2014, I decided I probably needed to start lifting weights in order to tone and maintain my upper body. I had an old shoulder injury that was symptom free but my thinking was to strengthen my shoulders and arms so my muscles would support the shoulder well as I was aging and prevent any future recurrence of symptoms. I started with very light weights and advanced to around 8 pounds. After a few weeks, I noticed my arm muscles were getting bigger and stronger and thought I was on the right path! However, the old shoulder injury started flaring up again! Wait! What was I supposed to do? I was frustrated and went on an internet search as to what was happening. Here’s what I found.

Most weight strengthening is done while contracting the muscles, called concentric strengthening. While this is definitely strengthening, while the muscles are bulking up they are also getting a tiny bit shorter. If the muscles get shorter, even by a fraction of an inch, there will be less space in the joints those muscles are attached to. In my case, that tiny bit of compression of the shoulder joint compressed some nerves and caused the flare up. Think of body builders who aren’t able to raise their arms above their heads with straight elbows. They are tremendously strong, but less flexible.

Eccentric strengthening is done with elongated muscles, resulting in strength without compromising flexibility. Think of ballerinas. They are also tremendously strong, but have long, lean lines and amazing flexibility!

When researching this topic online, I came across the term, Essentrics. Essentrics is the name of a method of strengthening and stretching all 650 muscles in one workout and was developed by a former professional Canadian ballerina, Miranda Esmonde White. Miranda ended her ballet career and opened a fitness studio, doing the typical aerobic classes popular twenty some years ago. She began to see changes in her body shape she didn’t like and was also in chronic pain, as were most of the fitness instructors she knew. She felt the fitness industry (really only about 40 years old so still in its infancy) was doing something wrong and set out to study the human body and what we really needed to do to be fit. Essentrics was born out of this study. Miranda has put together a method that combines all the best, most intelligent aspects of many disciplines: pilates, ballet, physical therapy, music therapy, yoga, Tai Chi, etc. This program aired on PBS as “Classical Stretch” and continues to be PBS’ longest running fitness program!

After reading lots of reviews from folks who were raving about how doing Essentrics changed their bodies and eliminated their aches and pains, I ordered a season of Classical Stretch from Amazon. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made!

Fast forward to today and Essentrics has eliminated stiffness, aches, pains, and I am stronger than I ever have been! It also relieved my husband’s plantar fasciitis and back pain. He has fewer back problems now in his mid sixties than in his thirties and forties! I not only fell in love with the results, but love the actual workouts, so much so that I am thrilled to be a certified Essentrics Instructor and have the pleasure of teaching classes helping all ages and abilities to be strong and flexible! Essentrics is good as a stand alone program or to increase flexibility in order to perform better athletically in other sports. In a one hour class, we stretch and strengthen all 650 muscles, move all the joints and rebalance the body! New research has also shown that the simple act of stretching is good for lowering blood pressure, due to the stretching of blood vessels right along with the muscle fibers! Absolutely good for everyone!

I think we all know we need to stretch, but seldom do much of it! If you’re interested in checking out Essentrics, you can go to http://www.essentrics.com or tune into Classical Stretch on PBS. If you’re in the Colorado Springs area and interested in attending a live class, let me know!

Whether it’s Essentrics or something different, finding a way of moving your body everyday is something to seriously pursue. If you’re dealing with cancer or other health issues, exercise is great for working off the stress chemicals that feel so . . . stressful! Some kind of movement done consistently is more than great for relieving stress – it’s absolutely vital to regaining your health and vitality! We were meant to move and our bodies were designed to last a lifetime without stiffness and pain! Strength, flexibility and energy can be ours!

Find your fire!

I found mine is walking and doing Essentrics!

Let me know what works for you!