September 21, 2008
Why women need to re-think the way they exercise!
Are you bored with repetitive fitness regimes or is your workout turning you into a man?
It is time for women to re-think the way they exercise. If we exercise in a masculine way as women, we will not only end up looking harder, but also become more masculine in our energy which can cause more problems. Some female celebrities have gone down this route already. Exercising in a masculine way can have negative effects on our health, happiness and especially our intimate relationships. Most of us make no distinction between male or female ways to exercise, but not all exercises are suitable for women in the long term. This is a little known truth. We are told to go to the gym, lift weights, go on the treadmill etc., but few of us understand that although this might be beneficial for men, it can be bad news for women despite looking more toned.
Masculine exercises often have a competitive edge and produce the stress hormone adrenaline. During exercise men typically strive to improve endurance, speed, strength muscle tone etc. However, healthy feminine energy and radiance is closely linked to feeling physical pleasure and the joy of being in a female body whilst exercising. The focus is not on improving our bodies but enjoying our bodies to the fullest. Rather than a powerful aggressive workout we want to be open and receptive to the inherent gifts and sensations of our bodies.
The easiest way to determine if an exercise is supporting our own unique expression of healthy feminine energy is to listen to our bodies and become aware of how much we are actually enjoying it. You can ask yourself: How does it feel in my body? Am I happier and more energetic than before? Healthy exercises for women will encourage the flow of endorphines – our pleasure giving hormones- and promote a more sensual physical energy and feeling of wellbeing.
Generally women tend to get bored quickly with repetitive exercises like doing a certain amount of jumps, sit-ups, or following the same routine every time. We might feel we have to “work out”, but what we really need is to “play out” and be more spontaneous, creative and free flowing in our exercise. One of the best ways of feminine exercise is belly dancing and all classes which include free-flowing dance. Look up your nearest Nia classes and enjoy this invigorating holistic fusion dance exercise with healing and transformative powers. Don’t be shy to try out something new. You are likely to find women of all shapes and ages.
A typical aerobic dance class can be quite rigid and repetitive and a number of women find it stressful to try and keep up with a set-routine. Healing exercises like Yoga, Tai-Chi, Chi Gung and Pilates are more balanced between the masculine and feminine energy and can be better ways of keeping the body’s energy free flowing and increasing suppleness. But only attend a class if you truly enjoy it. Do not “push yourself” or see it as a discipline.
Most of us have experienced signing up for a class and dropping out half-way through. No need to feel guilty – it just wasn’t enjoyable enough for us. Our body’s wisdom never lies. A class that’s right for you will naturally make you come back for more. If there is nothing for you at the gym you can always be a little creative and move freely to your favorite tune at home, swim, learn to roller-skate again with your kids, get your bicycle out or simply enjoy walking the dog in the park. Don’t “just do it”. But “enjoy doing it your way!”
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