Hormones are "key" to feeling better
Apparently it only takes ten minutes of focused exercise to release a lot of feel-good hormones into our mind and body. Which is so important when we are recovering from something, whether it's physical, mental, or emotional.
Even when we are anxious, worried or similar, our body responds better if we just move. And it seems that it's not about intense workouts, either.
Focus-pocus
So, how do we focus? Do we "power up" mentally with how we focus? Are we intense with this? Or do we/and maybe also, "power up" in the exercises? Omg moment: I remember a few decades ago when yoga teachers were instructing us to "power up", "go strong", "feel the stretch". Seriously, I loathed practicing yoga poses like that. And I noticed that my body, brain, etc, hated it too. Obviously no feel-good hormones were happening for me with this.
It can be a bit different than that. We can easily do the focusing by keeping our relaxed attention on what we are doing, rather than allowing ourselves to become distracted. Each time that your awareness wanders, bring it back to what you are doing. (Meditation is great for learning how to do this).
I find that it also helps to visualise my body becoming toned and more functional. And being aware, noticing, feeling, the parts of the body being used. So, for example, if we are doing a wide-legged squat, we feel the body lowering down. As we rise, we are deliberately pushing into our heels as we push against the floor. We are contracting our abs, buttocks and thighs as we are rising, especially at the top of the squat. This is focus and does give great muscle response as well.
Exercise as recovery
Even doing ten minutes of focused exercise at specific times of the day, as a daily habit, does produce results. Doing it whether we want to do it or not. And these small amounts, they are definitely do-able. Plus, they have accumulated effects. A real win-win.
When we have been unwell, after operations, tired for a long time, depressed, over-stressed, we can change our mental and emotional state, just with these ten minute boosts.
Me again. Yep, again....
Do I do this? Well, before my second operation when my stomach was again twisted and travelling up into my chest - I did stop exercise such as my sculpting moves. I do yoga, which really does move, squish and stretch our torso, and I seriously did not want to aggravate anything to do with what was happening inside of me. I moved around quite a bit, instead. The ole stand up and just move, routine. However, I was so exhausted by what was going on inside me, so I ended up mostly resting, and also doing the calf exercise in my previous post. I did it a lot!
But I do have small routines that I methodically have done on a daily basis, for years. And with recovery, I just gradually work my way back up to being able to do them. I have done my routines for many years as I got a lot older. I know that they work. Originally they were done one after the other as longer morning sessions, but, needs must... so due to tummy difficulties and the resulting unwellness, I separated some of them to make everything more doable.
The original morning session involved flexibilities, followed by a few sun salutes, some largely unknown yoga body sculpting moves, a few classical poses for glandular (hormone) health, breathing and meditation. all of this took less than thirty minutes of exercise, and honestly kept me going when I was unwell.
I have added doing a few quick moves and stretches that take maybe a minute or two or three before getting out of bed. Just to wake myself up and get the circulation going. It really does make a difference to my whole day.
I would love to do all of the yoga that I'd like to fit in, every day. But, this doesn't always happen. So I aim for five days out of seven, minimum. I am a real "have to do" person. I've had to learn to relax and not be so regimented, especially with exercise. Surprisingly....this works!! (who knew!?)
What else can we do?
The other useful thing to do, is to just get up and move. Tidy something. Do a two, five or ten minute task. Do this now and then. These little bursts of activity really work with restoring health, especially when we are recovering from something like a bad virus, or an operation. They keep us "ticking over".
I actually think that it's also just a good habit to get into, even when we are well.
Doing bits of activity, or exercise, here and there, are apparently now known as exercise snacks. Does this work? Absolutely.
An added bonus is that they use up lots of calories and keep our metabolism ticking over very well.
Does anyone else have easy hints like this?
Link to a post explaining Global Unity Festivals here
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