Hi all. Last Tuesday, I went to Nalini Method at its new home at Pure Yoga. I just have to say: Wow. I will go into much more detail next week when I have the time to give this class the attention it deserves. I spent this past week working out, going to bed early, running errands and spending time with friends.
Over the weekend while I was gallivanting about at bars and eating fancy brunches in Manhattan apartments, I got an email from my friend. She said, “I’ve become so freakin lazy. Feel like I’ve lost my mojo.”
My first thought was: I can’t imagine losing my exercise mojo. My second thought was: Wait, I used to lose it all the time.
Key words: Used to. A couple of years ago, I belonged to a very expensive gym next door to my apartment. There would be full weekends where I’d be home all day right next door and was not able to muster up the energy to go over there. There would be weeks at a time where I barely went to the gym, even though I was spending more than I could afford on it, because I just didn’t feel like it. Before that, I belonged to another nice gym next to my office. I even had work friends who also went there. And even then, I could take it or leave it. Sure, sometimes I’d have a streak where I went to the gym a few times in one week. But it was just as easy to completely lose my mojo and not go back for a month after that.
I felt like exercise was something I should do, so I did it. Sometimes. But I never enjoyed it and certainly did not automatically include it in my day.
This all changed for me when I participated in the Core Fusion Challenge last year. At first, I was working out almost every day because I felt a responsibility. A responsibility to Fred DeVito, the Core Fusion creator who was generous enough to give me the opportunity to take Core Fusion for free on the terms that I take class 4-5 times a week and write about it here. A responsibility to the 15 ladies who read my blog and decided to take part in the challenge along with me, most of them with the DVDs at home. A responsibility to my blog readers, who I told about the challenge and were expecting to learn more. And most importantly, a responsibility to myself. I had just gone through a breakup, a move and a chronic illness; it was my responsibility at that time to not feel sorry for myself, to not get overwhelmed about all the crap all over my tiny apartment that did not yet have a place, to not to worry about being alone and wonder how long that would last, to not let my stomach problems continue to control my life and prevent me from seeing my friends, and to not fall into the same rut I had been in for years.
It was time to turn my life around and Core Fusion gave me the chance to do this.
I know that my situation was unique. Most people do not happen to get offered a free month of exercise with motivation and support from the company’s founder and teachers. I was extremely fortunate in this case. But really, I was inspired — and ANYONE can be inspired. You don’t need a fancy membership for this.
Find people who inspire you. I am inspired by very close friend Missy, who tried a workout called IntenSati where they shout affirmations as part of exercise sets. After an initial period of not taking part in the speaking aspects of class, she started to feel more comfortable and began to shout the affirmations. Then she began to believe them. She overcame her public speaking fears and is now a certified IntenSati instructor herself (and a damn good one). I am inspired by Ashley who runs ultramarathons and marathons and does Iron Mans what seems like every weekend. She might be at the back of the pack, but she DOES them and has fun. I am inspired by my friends on dailymile who all make it a point to get their runs in.
And I am inspired by readers who send me emails like this:
Happy New Year Dori!
I follow you on Twitter and your daily Core Fusion musings. I have been a Lotte Berk and Core Fusion devotee for years who has ‘fallen off the wagon’. Well this morning I have recommitted! Look forward to being part of your Core Fusion Challenge committing to 4-5 classes each week.
When I have some free time in my day, you will often find me on the class scheduler for Core Fusion and Refine Method examining what classes are at what time and determining which I can take each day. I consider my schedule and register for classes based on what I have planned for each day. For example, on Wednesday night I am going out to dinner with my friend Jackie, so I am already signed up for 6:30 am Refine. On Saturdays I love me some Core Fusion Cardio with Bergen, and you bet I’m already registered for that one. I don’t even consider not scheduling my workouts. It is automatic. It is actually fun! After seeing the incredible results from the Core Fusion Challenge — both the body AND the mind results — and after finally experiencing the unmatched feeling of contentedness after a real workout, I can’t imagine not doing this. I take a couple of rest days a week, but I rarely take two rest days in a row because I so enjoy the feeling of getting my body moving. I no longer like lounging for so much time. It doesn’t feel right to lay around and do nothing when I could be doing something amazing. I love finishing a Refine class at 7:30 am and having that energy carrying me through my day.
So when I read that email, I realized that while I could once relate, now I cannot. Exercise has become so ingrained in my life and has truly become something I love. Exercise has become a priority and a given.
To my friend who wrote that email, you will get your mojo back. You just need to figure out what exercise you actually love and you need some inspiration. I hope I can be the one to give it to you.
– – –
Another way to get your mojo back?
Register for a marathon.
– – –
Ever lose your mojo? How’d you get it back?
