Superficial Fitness Goals Are Not Always Enough. Look Deeper For Motivation.

Our superficial fitness goals may not be enough to motivate us and to keep us consistent, getting ourselves in the gym or out for a run, week after week

If I look in the mirror and I don't like what I see, I'll feel motivated to get training but I probably won't remain motivated for very long.

Yes, for a short while it will be a very important goal for me to achieve. This may be after I've seen social media photos and been making comparisons, or if i'm on the beach and i'm not in the shape I hoped I'd be. In these situations, I would typically tell myself 'next time i'm at the beach, I'll be in that shape I want because I want to look better!' But, once I'm back in London, that motivation will not be with me as strongly at all.

This simply isn't a strong enough motivation for me, to keep me going the whole way to the finish line.

I need something deeper, more powerful to help me to keep coming back to meeting my goal, whether that's exercise and focusing on my general health or any other goal. Not to say that superficial goals don't motivate, but we often need a little extra support. We need that extra reason 'why'.

By looking at exercise and our relationship with health and fitness in a broader way, we will feel a deeper gratitude of being able to move our body.

Feeling Present

There's very little else you can do when exercising. Leave the phone and headphones at home or in your locker and you'll find yourself immersed in your exercise practice, whatever it may be.

Whether you're pushing weights in the gym or running. This gives you a little break from technology and screen time and you start to connect with your body and your breath.

Any exercising practice can bring these peaceful benefits of finding presence and connection. Enjoy the sensation of presence will lead to feelings of peace, mental clarity, stress reduction and positive well-being.

Really take time to indulge in that space you have given yourself. Feel your muscles working. Connect with your breath. There's no better opportunity to feel more alive than when feeling the air coming in and out of your lungs and remembering that you're alive.

Part of an Active Community

I can quite easily work out at home. I have everything I need there for an effective workout from my personal training studio. Instead, on occasion, (not every time as I'm definitely a home body), I prefer to go to a space where there are other people. Maybe a gym, or maybe a local park.

I usually am not particularly desiring to want to speak to anyone but there is something very connecting about being in a space with others.

You will feel this community energy when your being active with someone. Breathing together, moving in synch, sharing common goals, exchanging the odd smile. There's something great about that.

Moving in Natural Spaces

On occasion I make time to walk without a purpose. I do not need to be anywhere. This feels very unnatural to me, as I'm often battling with not feeling productive. It's difficult but I can put myself in this space after a short while and I feel great.

Am I more connected spiritually, I don't totally know what I mean by that, but at a guess, I'd say yes. I feel very spiritually connected. I remind myself that I'm not that different from the ducks in the lake, or the squirrels - the main difference being is that that have figured out life much better than us humans and we can learn a lot from them.

I also look at my life and wonder what's all this running around for. Life isn't that serious. Maybe I can slow down like that duck, chill, find some healthy food and spend time with the people I want to be with. Surely, it's that simple.

Runners High

Have you ever ran and experienced runners high? I have, and its one of the best feelings in the world. Life feels pretty fantastic. This can also be achieved through dance and other forms of movement. Simply, feeling great when moving is accessible to all of us. That mind and body feeling of aliveness - the magic of hormones.

A moment of Gratitude

I use to dislike cut flowers in a vase. I found them too depressing. They were simply always dying. Their time was very limited. Of course, this dislike probably came from my own fear of death. I feel a little different now. I like the reminder that life is short, everything is temporary and we are interconnected with everything. Gardening reminds me of the cycle of life and inspires me to do more of what I like - finding connection.

Take time to enjoy being active by remembering that you are so fortunate to be able to do what many people can't do. You'll also go some way to extending your life span too so you can enjoy more of this.

When I'm exercising and moving, whether that be in the gym, at home, in nature or other I often like to remind myself that i'm lucky to have a body, a body that generally functions well.

My body can get me to A to B, I can find the strength to do what I set my mind to. My mental wellbeing is in a state where I can take joy out of everyday experiences. Such times remind me that I have all the conditions I need to be happy.

There are more benefits to physical exercise and movement than losing weight, or putting an inch on your bicep. These things are nice but they are really just a very small part of your health and fitness experience. Next time you're on the move, take a moment, take a deep breath and explore a little deeper asking yourself 'what really is keeping me coming back to exercising week after week?'