Here are some ways you can get yourself to work out more, and to motivate yourself.
Indians are getting more and more fitness conscious, but there are
still a large number of us who don't exercise at all, despite wanting
and planning to for ages. Whatever the reason: lack of time, lack of motivation or plain laziness, it is clear that the
desire to exercise is there but perhaps the will is missing.
Here are some ways you can get yourself to work out more, and to motivate yourself.
Dance
Join a dance class. Dancing is a far more enjoyable activity than aerobic exercise.
So if you have tried joining an aerobic class but dropped out because
you lost your motivation to continue regularly, try joining adance class
instead. Almost everyone likes to dance. Not only does dancing tone
your legs, but it is also a good cardiovascular workout. In addition,
you will learn a few new dance steps, stay more in touch with the
latest music, and your movements in general will have more grace -
especially if you join Indian classical dance classes. Your posture
will improve, you will lose weight and you will be more fit.
If you find that you lack the motivation or binding imposed by a dance class,
consider hiring a small-time choreographer to come home and teach you
dance. Some
of us may have learnt dance from a choreographer during a family
wedding. Simply call one of these choreographers home. Some
choreographers charge around Rs 300 per session, which consists of 2
hours, so you can split the costs amongst a group of friends who can
work out together. This works out to be far cheaper than membership to
an exclusive gym!
Vajrasana
After dinner, tuck your feet under you and sit in
Vajrasan
for at least fifteen minutes. Do this while watching television! This
requires minimum motivation, and is something you can do daily, or
whenever you eat at
home, without much effort.
Crunches
As soon as you wake up tomorrow morning, tuck your hands behind
your head and do ten to fifteen crunches. Remember to keep your arms
parallel to the bed. Don't bend them from the wrists and curl them
around your head. This strains your neck. Everyday, try and increase
the number of crunches you do by one. Pretty soon you will be doing a
hundred crunches, and may have to wake up earlier. But wouldn't the
flatter stomach be worth it?
Remember that not everyone can lose all their tummy flab just
by doing crunches. Some people may need to combine cardio exercises
with abdomen exercises.
Stretches
As soon as you get out of bed, inhale and lift your hands up, and exhale and bend down to touch your toes without bending your knees. If you can touch your toes,
then try and touch your head to your knees. Do this gently, and don't
strain yourself. Perform this
stretch every morning. It doesn't take more than a minute, and is
possibly one of the best leg stretches. Similarly, while taking a
shower, when bending down to
soap your legs, don't bend your knees.
At various times during the day clasp your hands behind you
intertwining your fingers and stretch them out behind you. This is a
good workout for your arms and shoulders.
