"PLEASE get ready for the morning exercise," the student's sleepy voice would say through the gymnasium's speakers. My schoolmates and I would assemble at the gym every morning at 7.30 to sing the national anthem and morning prayers, and do the morning exercise.
Why, we would silently wail, why do we have to do this so early in the morning? My exercise grunts were just met by stern glares from the teachers. Perhaps if Elle Woods of "Legally Blonde" had been my classmate, I would have better appreciated that "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy."
As I aged though, I did learn the value of exercise. In the beginning, it was for vanity reasons. My metabolism was slowing down, and I had to stay fit to look fit. And then there was the health reason. I knew my sedentary lifestyle was taking a toll on my health, so I hit the gym. My friends would also exercise to tone their bodies, make new friends at fitness centers, lose weight. Valid motivations. But have you ever heard of anyone saying, "I exercise to be happy"?
Think about it. After a workout, you feel a certain high. I can describe it as a mix of relief ("Good thing I got my butt off the computer chair.") and pride ("Good thing I got my butt off the computer chair!"). There's that emotional boost, that spark of happiness brought about by a job well done and I guess, endorphins.
Perhaps that's a good push to start exercising again. We know we'll feel better after a workout. So why not use happiness as your end goal? When you see you're ten pounds less, you're happy. When your skin glows after a workout, you're happy. When you're able to run an extra lap, you're happy. Happy, happy, happy.
Why not kick the morning off with some happy movements, and turn those exercise grunts into grins? Get that butt off your chair and move to be happy!
Move to be happy
"PLEASE get ready for the morning exercise," the student's sleepy voice would say through the gymnasium's speakers. My schoolmates and I would assemble at the gym every morning at 7.30 to sing the national anthem and morning prayers, and do the morning exercise.
Why, we would silently wail, why do we have to do this so early in the morning? My exercise grunts were just met by stern glares from the teachers. Perhaps if Elle Woods of "Legally Blonde" had been my classmate, I would have better appreciated that "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy."
As I aged though, I did learn the value of exercise. In the beginning, it was for vanity reasons. My metabolism was slowing down, and I had to stay fit to look fit. And then there was the health reason. I knew my sedentary lifestyle was taking a toll on my health, so I hit the gym. My friends would also exercise to tone their bodies, make new friends at fitness centers, lose weight. Valid motivations. But have you ever heard of anyone saying, "I exercise to be happy"?
Think about it. After a workout, you feel a certain high. I can describe it as a mix of relief ("Good thing I got my butt off the computer chair.") and pride ("Good thing I got my butt off the computer chair!"). There's that emotional boost, that spark of happiness brought about by a job well done and I guess, endorphins.
Perhaps that's a good push to start exercising again. We know we'll feel better after a workout. So why not use happiness as your end goal? When you see you're ten pounds less, you're happy. When your skin glows after a workout, you're happy. When you're able to run an extra lap, you're happy. Happy, happy, happy.
Why not kick the morning off with some happy movements, and turn those exercise grunts into grins? Get that butt off your chair and move to be happy!
1 TrackBack
TrackBack URL: http://blogs.inquirer.net/cgi/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2768
Cooking bacon in microwave.... Raw bacon cooking times. Cooking bacon on electric stove....----- PING: TITLE: Cooking rib eye steak. URL: http://cookevent.blogs.event-management-uk.co.uk/2009/11/20/cooking-rib-eye-steak/ DATE: 12/18/2009 05:23:59 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Cooking rib eye steak.... Cooking rib eye steak....----- PING: TITLE: Healthy cooking oil. URL: http://cookkeep.blogs.keeptaperrelief.com/2009/11/20/healthy-cooking-oil/ DATE: 12/17/2009 04:39:38 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Healthy cooking oil.... Healthy cooking oil....----- PING: TITLE: Polder cooking thermometer timer. URL: http://f43pills.dogsblogusa.com/2009/11/18/cooking-timer/ DATE: 12/17/2009 10:18:03 AM IP: 127.0.0.1 Cooking timer.... Timer thermometer cooking. Cooper cooking thermo timer. Cooking timer. Cooper dtt361 cooking thermo timer. Polder cooking thermometer timer....----- PING: TITLE: Cooking frozen chicken. URL: http://cookkeep.blogs.keeptaperrelief.com/2009/11/20/cooking-frozen-chicken/ DATE: 12/16/2009 04:29:13 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Cooking frozen chicken.... Cooking frozen chicken....----- PING: TITLE: Southern home cooking. URL: http://f43pills.dogsblogusa.com/2009/11/18/down-home-southern-cooking/ DATE: 12/16/2009 02:06:50 AM IP: 127.0.0.1 Southern home cooking.... Down home southern cooking. How to cook southern cooking at home. Southern home cooking....----- PING: TITLE: Neurontin and clonipin. URL: http://forums.hyperic.com/jiveforums/profile.jspa?userID=3289 DATE: 12/09/2009 04:59:07 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Neurontin.... Physiology of neurontin. Neurontin and high blood sugar. Neurontin. Neurontin side effects. Pregnancy and neurontin....----- PING: TITLE: Protonix. URL: http://forums.hyperic.com/jiveforums/profile.jspa?userID=3291 DATE: 12/09/2009 11:22:38 AM IP: 127.0.0.1 Protonix.... Protonix medication....----- PING: TITLE: Paula dean home cooking. URL: http://cookguru.blogguru.net/2009/11/23/paula-dean-home-cooking/ DATE: 12/08/2009 08:46:29 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Paula dean s home cooking.... Paula dean home cooking. Paula dean s home cooking....----- PING: TITLE: Vicodin without prescription. URL: http://www.theinsider.com/users/Vicodinnow DATE: 12/08/2009 05:13:34 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Vicodin detox.... Vicodin. Vicodin dependence....----- PING: TITLE: Crockpot cooking recipes. URL: http://f43pills.dogsblogusa.com/2009/11/18/crockpot-cooking/ DATE: 12/08/2009 03:50:00 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Crockpot cooking.... Crockpot cooking. Cooking turkey in crockpot.. Crockpot cooking recipes - steaks. Crockpot cooking recipes....----- PING: TITLE: Pressure cooking peanuts. URL: http://f43pills.dogsblogusa.com/2009/11/18/cooking-peanuts/ DATE: 12/07/2009 06:38:55 PM IP: 127.0.0.1 Cooking raw peanuts.... Pressure cooking peanuts. Cooking raw peanuts....----- PING: TITLE: Diovan. URL: http://forums.hyperic.com/jiveforums/profile.jspa?userID=3286 DATE: 12/07/2009 08:40:29 AM IP: 127.0.0.1 Diovan.... Diovan hct generic. Diovan hgt. Diovan medication infor. Diovan....----- PING: TITLE: Cheapest cialis. URL: http://forums.hyperic.com/jiveforums/profile.jspa?userID=3303 DATE: 12/07/2009 06:50:17 AM IP: 127.0.0.1 Buy cialis online.... Cialis price. Buy cialis. Cialis uk. Cialis. Cialis attorney columbus. Cialis story....----- -------- Read More
I was never a morning person but it doesnt have to be early in the morning that you should move to be happy. Even after 8 or 9, the need to exercise not just the body but also our facial muscles by smiling is needed. I do this by smiling in front of the mirror and stretching out those wrinkles away :)
although its just 15 mins of exercise each day, it makes me happy.
even just 2 drops of sweat make me happy. that's how sedentary my lifestyle is.
thanks for the reminder, toni.
almira: And thank you for reminding me too!
Junnie: That is true, no need to be a morning person to move! Anytime of the day is fine. :) And that smiling exercise could work wonders too.
i like the morning moves. they set up the morning mood, full of energy and vibrance. a lighter feel and a happy vibe... love it.
This is a great post. I really need to do some exercises, i am seeing a little tummy over here. Thanks a lot for posting this! :)
Oh, and I love that quote from Legally Blonde "Exercise gives you Endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't." heehee.. :)