Your new exercise mantra needs to be: Exercise Should Feel Good. But why? And how do we implement this into our every workout?
Whether our recent COVID crisis has seen you confined to your home and experimenting with new ways to keep moving, or you’re back to being a regular at your local gym or pool, movement is always a good idea. It boosts our immunity and keeps muscles strong, amongst so many other benefits. But, and maybe you’ve experienced this, one wrong move can result in pain or injury.
So how do you know which moves are best?
It’s actually pretty simple: pay attention to how you FEEL. During any workout – from water exercise, to running, to lifting weights, or yoga – your body will tell you what moves are right for you. So, listen up! And, because our bodies have been trained to suck-it-up-and-get-on-with-it for so long (because we’ve all got massive responsibilities and way too much to do), sometimes this can be harder than it sounds.
How to feel more in your workouts
Give yourself permission to try new things. As you explore new ways to exercise ask yourself: Does it feel good? If it feels good, you’ve found a move your body needs.
If you’re unsure or feeling some pain, follow these three steps to find the right move:
- Try moving a little slower
- Make the move smaller
- Use a different foot position
The Feel Good Wall Squat – try it out with one of my favorite exercises
- Begin with one hand on the wall at shoulder height.
- Reach the other hand at knee height, or lower if your flexibility allows.
- Not only are the hips moving into perfect squat mechanics, but notice the feel good stretch in the shoulders.
Practice your new exercise mantra: Exercise Should Feel Good, and give yourself permission to modify and even skip a few repetitions. With every workout, water exercise session, or yoga class, make it your own.
Want to take it a step further? Feel your way to better results with my WECOACH membership. Access a growing library of video and audio pool workouts, plus NEW video tips each month to help keep you safe and progressing.
See you over there.
Author: Laurie Denomme, Founder of WECOACH and Creator of Wavemakers®
