Exercise & a Cheesy Analogy

So I was in the pool jumping around enjoying the music and without thinking about it focusing on different muscles and working them when I had a bit of a analogy come to my mind. I will tell you more about it as I explain my process and how I got there. So first the exercise part........ So as I was telling you I am jumping around enjoying the work out and I was realizing how much I not only enjoy working out but also how much my workouts have changed over the past few years. What I mean by that is this............... In the beginning I was just doing good to get to the gym and participate in the class. As time passed I started learning more about what I was doing. I was learning which moves were meant to work what muscles, how to do the moves to work different areas. I also learned that I really am able to adjust my workouts to my personal preference, be it how hard I work or which muscles I focus on that day, I am in charge! A rather liberating feeling to know! Once again I got myself into this mess and I can get myself out of it as well! In my way, my rules, and I am not subject to any one persons "plan" or "idea" of the "right way" of doing it. As I learned these things I also was amazed to realize that I actually can feel and control my muscles, some of which I had never even known I had let alone ever felt and/or isolated to work them. Imagine thinking about focusing on a muscle set and tightening them , working them, stretching, contracting , controlling them to work to my benefit. WOW , My body can work for me, how cool is that?! Anyway I have been very excited to learn these things and practice working, isolating and focusing on what I am doing with each move for each muscle....... ( granted there are times my mind is more focused on singing along with the music and just splashing around then working the muscles, but hey some days we just have to Sing! ) So another thing that has been so exciting is seeing how learning all these things and putting them to work has really changed my body. Not only has it changed my body and what it is able to do and how it feels in the water but also outside the water. I have come so far and had several "moments" with the exercise that I never expected. Now I know this may seem silly for some people reading this but I have to tell you some of the things I am going to share with you here are enormous to someone who has come from where I started. That being said.... The first time I was able to actually grab a hold of my foot from behind when stretching (knee pointed down leg bent with foot up to bottom) and then being able to grab a hold of my toes from the front when stretching my leg out in front of me...... I could not even come close to my foot in either direction the beginning. I have become extremely flexible. This is very exciting to a big girl who formally was not even flexible enough to bend over and touch her toes to tie her own shoes! A top favorite moment was having a trainer say to me at the end of a class the she noticed how flexible I have become and that it is a good sign of hard work! Yeah Me! It is always nice to hear, from someone whom you respect and consider knowledgeable in a specific area, compliment you on your abilities or efforts. Anyway I can go on about the exercise thing for a long time, and maybe I will talk more about it another time, but I want to tell you now the thought I had while in the pool working out yesterday. This is the "Cheesy analogy" part. So if you are faint of heart when it comes to cheesy... stop here. :-) So I am working out jumping and splashing and I have this thought............ In the water I really have come to feel like I can do anything. I feel like I am a Olympic gymnast or yoga master.. Then I realized I feel so confident because truly in the water I am safe, I am supported totally by the water and I can't fall and hurt myself because of the complete support. So I can try things I wouldn't attempt on the ground, like a difficult yoga stance or a exercise move that demands stability and flexibility because even if I don't get it the first time, I am supported by the water so I will be O.K. ! So as I am thinking about this total support which always me to try new things because I trust I am going to be alright, I thought........... WOW, How cool would it be if we all could feel this supported throughout all of life. If we surround ourselves with people we trust to support us completely, allowing us to try anything because we know we are supported, we would be unstoppable. Think of the things you could accomplish if you did not even have to think about failing because if you did you have the support around you to soften the fall so you will not get hurt. If we never had to hesitate and think about what will happen if we fall.... How will people judge us if we fail..... We would be more likely to loose the fear because we have complete support. I hope this makes some sense..... I feel like my words may be failing me but I know how I felt while in the water... So next time you are in a pool or some other body of water, try something you would not dare try on the ground................ Do a cheerleader jump into the splits or stand on your hands, a yoga pose........... and then really feel the support of the water. Maybe that will help my words make sense. :-) Parents..... be the water for your children, so they can feel unstoppable and totally trust in your support! Thanks for stopping by........ leave me a message, put your name in the body of the post, ask me questions let me know what you want to hear more about.............. Be Well! And surround yourself with positive healthy supportive relationships!