If there’s one thing I’ve learned about exercise, it’s that we should choose to do what we love, not what we think we should do. After much trial and error, I’ve finally figured out what works for me.
MY SPORTS STORY
In high school I always wanted to be good at a sport, but never really was. I played field hockey my freshman year, but when I tried out for the JV team as a sophomore, I was told that I wasn’t aggressive enough. (I think that’s a good thing, looking back on it.)
Then I tried winter track. That went fairly well in the beginning. I had some good friends on the team, and while I wasn’t fast, I had fun running relays and long jumping. That is, until the shin splints began in both legs, and I was out for the rest of the season.
Softball was the one sport that went well, and I played for three years, but mostly because my friends were on the team. One time, on the way to a game, I told our coach, “You know, I don’t think I’m a very competitive person.” That didn’t go over so well (I nearly didn’t get to play that game!), and it was the first time I questioned playing team sports.
At the end of high school and well into college, I danced. Jazz, modern, African, South Indian, ballet – I tried all kinds, and loved the non-western forms the most. I went onto performing a lot in college, and even choreographed a piece for our college museum’s opening.
I finally found a form of fitness I loved and craved. After college I took a few more dance classes here and there, and eventually discovered yoga, which I also loved straight away.
Both dancing and yoga made me feel free. Even if there was a set of moves to follow, I could focus on myself – how I was feeling, and what adjustments I needed to make. Something about them felt more natural. More me.
Two years ago I took up running. It started as a way to relax during grad school, but then became a way to think of blog topics, run through my thoughts, clear my head, and listen to podcasts. I ran my first half marathon in Walt Disney World in October, and trained to run a second one there in January.
It took many years of wanting to be a team sports kind of person before I realized that I could find my own routine that was just for me.
My favorite sports now are running, hiking, skiing, and yoga. And they’re all individual sports. In high school I never thought that was okay.
MY ADVICE?
When you’re looking for a fitness routine, there will be lots of classes and sports and races that sound fun, or trendy.
Pick something that you love, that will keep you motivated to stay active. If you’ve tried running and hate it, don’t run. If you love going for walks in the woods or dancing in your room with the door closed, do it.
Exercise is personal. We can feel pressured to do certain things because of family or friends or ads, but really?
Do it for you.
This post was originally featured on Best Body Fitness.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re not the only one to be snubbed by the JV team, I tried out for volleyball and was denied (I think it was more of a popularity contest and I was a “Farm kid”). I had an accident while skiing that gave me back issues the rest of high school, nearly failed gym class because of it. I remember one class when we played flag football, girls and boys, the boys would not pass to the girls. I had to steal the darn ball so my gym teacher would stop nagging on me to play! Oh those were the days… Now I can chase my kids and/or dog outside or use Wii Fit at home.
Isn’t it funny how much we can change?
Oh, high school sports. I definitely don’t miss that pressure – and yeah, a lot of it was a popularity contest.