Fierce Fitness: Nurturing and Exercise

How many of you have woken up and not listened to your body? You headed off to the gym or studio and got caught up in these “rules” about this much cardio, this much strength per week. But you didn’t listen to your body and what it needs for that particular day! You see, what works well for your best friend might not work best for you.

To put it in simple terms, nurturing is the practice of connecting and listening to your body, in order to figure out how it feels and what type of movement it needs that day. So instead of exercising to burn calories or lose weight, it’s about exercising for the positive health and mood benefits.

A lot of us think that wellness is just a physical sense that includes exercise, nutrition, weight management etc. But you need to look at it in a different dimension. Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being, fuelling the body, engaging the mind and nurturing the spirit. The path of natural health and wellness (holistic path) is a life-long journey that requires personal responsibility and commitment. This is the path that I follow.

Why is this important?

Tuning into your body is something that is so important, as our needs are constantly shifting. One day you might have lots of energy and be busting to go for a run. Another day you might feel tired, and a gentle yoga class would be a better fit. It is important to tune into your body and how it feels, physically and mentally. Emotional stress can take its toll, and even when your body feels physically ok, you may not have the mental energy for a fast-paced workout. Honestly, I’ve had these days lately.

Tuning into your body is all about mindfulness. Over time, this will spill into other areas of your life, and you will be more in touch with what you’re thinking and feeling at any given time. It does take a lot of practice, but it is possible. A good way to do this is to keep a journal on how exercise makes you feel. Over time, you will start to see patterns that will help you progress to being more mindful about how you exercise and what you eat.

What can you do?

There are various ways to nurture your body daily.

Healthy foods: Eating well is a basic form of self-care. If you notice how the body responds internally to different foods, you will notice the sensation of fulfilment and enjoyment, compared to if you ate fried food every day. You could feel bloated and/or agitated. While consistency should be the goal, studies have actually shown that “cheat days” can actually help with long-term discipline. But always remember, a cheat meal is not every day! While the default should always be delicious and nutritious, I’m not here to tell you how frequently you should allow yourself a treat. That’s your prerogative and yours alone because no one knows your body as you do. The key is to know how to listen closely to what it’s telling you.

Exercise mindfully: Moderate physical exercise helps reduce tension, but it also strengthens body systems (including cardiovascular efficiency) and generates pleasurable sensations. When exercising, it is crucial to pay attention to the body’s messages and limits. Exertion to strengthen the body is helpful, but not if it’s so intense that injury results. For example, yoga encourages attentiveness so that sensations are felt with intimacy and affection. The stretches in yoga are used to slowly build physical and mental flexibility, and care is taken to push only gently, never forcefully. For me personally, the more I delve into yoga, the more I realise that real yoga happens off the mat. Yoga has become part of my life, as it has made me slow down and realise the importance of nurturing my mind and yes, body too.

Be gentle with your body: I’m going to go deep here. You know that physical touch soothes us. It relieves stress and anxiety and helps regulate our moods. Yes, this is a form of exercise. Hugs are also vital and I am sure you have experienced this from a partner, your family or even a close friend. This is the same when you massage sore muscles. It is a form of intimacy with your body, so nurture and honour it. A holistic approach, and one I learnt when studying Ayurvedic, is to rub warm sesame oil every night after having a shower. Not only is this soothing for the body it also supports the health of your skin.

Meditation: The practice of meditation has so many benefits and not just reducing stress. Meditation eases tension, improves your sleep, gives you a sense of calm, peace and balance.

Rest: Rest is crucial for anyone, not just athletes. Sometimes rest is not just for a day. It is normal to take weeks off from exercise to give yourself a complete mental and physical break. You see, your body needs an off-season, especially if you compete in any form of exercise and/or competition. If you are afraid to reduce your exercise load, just focus on other wellness forms.

Listen to your body: Many people I know are boxers (like me) and runners. They set themselves goals and create a plan to reach them. However, they can become so fixated on their exercise routine that when they skip a workout, they have anxiety issues and suffer overuse injuries.

It is very important to keep in mind and define your “WHY”, whilst being realistic and compassionate with yourself.

I believe that many of us are starting to rethink the way we look after our health. For instance, rethinking the way that we balance our work and personal lives. Also, the way we manage our body, mind and overall holistic wellness more proactively. Remember, when you listen to your body, you will know exactly which things fuel you, inspire you and energise you long-term.

Jo Lastro, Our Expert (Former)

A 1st-Degree Muay Thai Kickboxer and sole owner of Jo’s Fitness Studio. Muay Thai has made Jo stronger, more comfortable in her own skin, and taught her to have faith and trust in herself. She now hopes to inspire, and help others overcome their own obstacles by sharing her expertise in fitness.