Have you found your soul mate workout?

Anyone who has access to TV and print media knows that exercise is good for us! Regular exercise can help you control your weight, reduce your risk of certain diseases, strengthen your body, and improve your mood and sense of well-being.  

With all of those benefits, why don't more of us carve out that recommended 20 minutes a day, six days a week to move? 

If exercise still feels more like a chore and less like a gift to you, would you answer this question? 

Have you found your Soul Mate Workout? 

My soul mate workout is easy to pinpoint.  In her quest to make sure I wouldn't become a couch potato, my mom paid me one dollar for every mile that I ran starting at eight years old (unfortunately, she discontinued this practice somewhere around my high school years).  What started out as an effort by her to get me out of the house and off of my rear end initiated one of my greatest passions.  Even now, I feel so free when I run! There's nothing that compares to moving the body God gave me, in His sunshine, under His sky, breathing His fresh air.  It's incredible! 

Running has also connected me with some truly amazing people.  Through a local running group, I've built and strengthened friendships with various people that I probably wouldn't have met otherwise.  It's been an opportunity for me to minister, too, and share what God is doing in my life.  It's also connected me with a very special guy whom I'll be going to support at the Chicago marathon this weekend! Yep, running is my soul mate workout, for sure.  

So, if you've yet to find your soul mate workout, don't give up!  Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself to determine what workout is your "other half":

  1. What type of exercise did I love doing when I was young? 
  2. When can I remember having fun being active?
  3. Do I enjoy exercising alone or with a group? (e.g. would I prefer a class at the gym or lifting weights on my own?) 
  4. Do I like a lot of gear? Am I into technology? (If so, a more gear-intensive form of exercise like biking might keep me motivated!) 
  5. What's my budget for working out? 
  6. Do I like competition or would I rather exercise for fun?  

Through answering the questions above, and trying some different forms of exercise, you'll find that soul mate workout that you've been waiting for.  And it will be magical!  

P.S. Don't give up!  In my life, I've tried the following forms of exercise:  running (yes!!!!), tap dancing, jazz, baton, white water rafting, cheerleading, tumbling, gymnastics, yoga, pilates, barre method, tennis, racquetball, basketball, softball, squash, modern dance, ballroom dance, Zumba, hip-hop, biking, and swimming.  Running always wins!  But I've enjoyed so many other activities while trying to verify that running is indeed my soul mate! Give yourself some time to experiment with different forms of exercise, and I promise  you that you'll eventually come back to the one you adore.  

P.P.S.  Let me know in the comments what YOUR soul mate workout is!