When I’m not feeling well

When I’m sick, I am tempted to use it as an excuse to indulge in blobbing. But last week, I made it a point to get off the couch and move my body. Now, I’m not talking about serious illness - just feeling run down with the sniffles or some other mild discomfort. So don’t beat yourself up if you can’t get out of bed! 

These are wonderful opportunities to check in with yourself. Close your eyes and ask- what does my body need? It may be a challenge at first to discern what voice you hear. Is it the voice of resistance? We all know that what is good for us is not necessarily what we want! Is it the voice of denial? Sometimes we can be so stubborn that we push ourselves beyond our limits and make ourselves feel even worse. If your body craves rest, allow yourself to rest - with no guilt! If your body wants to move, give yourself gentle, low impact movement such as flexibility and mobility, that doesn't take too much out of you.

I knew that I wanted some movement and wasn’t too sick for mild activity. I swapped out my usual workouts for stretching, foam rolling, and yoga- but not all in one day. You can do the 10 minute "Mobility and Flexibility for Hikers" from my YouTube channel, below. Or one of my foam rolling or yoga videos. Remember to take it easy. When you are low on energy, it’s enough to introduce gentle movement and get your blood moving a little bit. Love yourself and be patient while you slow things down. Even a short walk or stretching is enough to keep your momentum going so that when you feel better, restarting your fitness routine won’t be such a shock to the system. 

Be well, and be kind to yourself.