It's Your Life December/January 2015 - 2016 | Page 33

December/January morning exercise can help recalibrate our hormones, and jump start our metabolism. Even 5-10 minutes of movement can help start your day off on a positive note. Squeeze in a few restorative yoga poses when stress levels begin to rise. Yoga is well known as being a stress reliever. When you feel the tension beginning to build in your body, stop and take a moment to engage in either Child’s Pose (Balasana), or Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani). Child’s Pose can help to release tension in the thighs, back, shoulders, and neck, while Legs Up the Wall can help to slow your heart rate, leading to a more relaxed state. Schedule fitness dates with friends. When we have other people holding us accountable, we are less likely to skip a workout. Find an activity that you enjoy, and then see if you can schedule a time to get together with friends and participate together. You will get an additional mood boost from having a workout partner, and you are more likely to push yourself if you are in a group setting. 33 Don’t expect perfection! While fitness is certainly an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, don’t beat yourself up if you skip a day due to the crazy holiday schedule. You need to allow yourself grace, and understand that your fitness level was not gained in a single day, and will not be lost in a single day. Missed workouts happen for a variety of reasons. As long as you are making an effort to include exercise as part of your lifestyle, you can rest assured that the additional rest you are taking may be exactly what your body needs at the moment. Even the smallest efforts to make fitness a priority during the holiday season will help to lower our stress levels, and start the New Year off in a healthier state. Enjoy the season with your loved ones and relax. Choosing to value and love yourself through healthy habits is the greatest gift you can give both yourself and your family this holiday season. Aimee Shilling is a pastor’s wife and mom of 4 amazing kids ages 3-10. She is working towards a goal of running 40 marathons or ultramarathons before her 40th birthday. She blogs at Forty by Forty Fitness about her goal, training and nutrition tips, and fitness inspiration. www.fortybyfortyfitness.com Become a Contributor Are you a natural living blogger/writer? See or contributors guidelines to find out how you can be published in It’s Your Life magazine. itsyourlifemag.com/contributor-guidelines 2015 itsyourlifemag.com