The Joy of Being Unique

Before anyone else calls me an "inspiration" because of the backbend post, let me just remind you all what I look like most of the time.

That ought to make you feel better already!!

I have been thinking how great it is that there are so many different ways to exercise and ways to be active. I have always wanted to be one of those people that could fly through the air in a gorgeous leap. My legs are flexible enough but I have never had the hops...the jumping gene. If I COULD jump, perhaps I would look something like this....

......but really I just photo-shopped a picture of me doing extended Adho Mukha Svanasana, or Downward Dog, on a yoga mat and looked like this!

Because of my muscle type and bottom heavy body make up, I am better at things like yoga, aerobics, weight lifting, walking....squatting.:) Whereas people like my husband, or maybe even you, are better at quick sports like tennis, basketball, track/running, or jumping over couches in a single bound (that's what Joe does). My point is, find the joy in your type of exercise. Find the method of exercising that makes you feel confident and yet can still challenge you. Then when you have found what you like and what really works for you, you can then keep your weight and muscles from plateauing by adding in a kickbox class, or try lifting weights, or try yoga, or racketball, or Dance Dance Revolution...try something new, knowing already what you are good at and what works best for you and your body.

The tricky part then, is to quit comparing and judging your body type or weight loss progression against someone elses. The path to being fit is just that...a path...it IS the journey. We will never reach "the goal" and then coast through the rest of life un-haunted by Ben and Jerry cravings. That is actually why we call yoga a practice...not a routine, not a work-out...but a yoga practice. Yoga, and truly exercise in any form, is a path of changes as our bodies go in and out of the different seasons of our lives. At times we will be able to run 6 miles, at other times, pushing a stroller to the park is breath taking (that was me three days ago). But if we always make an effort to do some kind of exercise...exercise that brings us joy...hopefully we will see over time a consistent improvement and growth in our health and in our body image. Be patient with your body, stay on the path, and find the joy in what makes you unique.