Intuitive Fitness

Good morning from New England. This is Intuitive Fitness, a newsletter exploring how to make exercise more enjoyable by embracing it from within. The land around our house is bursting with life and it’s been fun to integrate exercise into the spring activities around the garden. Last week, I mowed the grass for the first time and experienced how hilly our land truly is. As I pushed the lawn mower up the slope, I felt my heart rate and breathing quicken.

Today’s post is your official (and final) invitation to join me for the April cohort of Foundations of Intuitive Fitness. I’m closing enrollment on March 27th and wanted to share a full overview of the experience so you can determine if it’s a good fit. On April 3rd, I’ll begin leading a group through a month-long exploration of exercise in their own life. The purpose of this virtual course is to help you become someone who enjoys exercise and has the confidence to embrace it from within.

Good morning from New England. It finally feels like spring is around the corner here. So I’ve been sneaking out more for runs on the trail behind our house. I’m excited to share today’s post on strength training and an update on my upcoming course “Foundations of Intuitive Fitness." When many people think of strength training, they imagine a sleeveless dude grunting while doing bicep curls in the mirror.

Today’s post is about the stories we encounter around exercise. My intent with the Intuitive Fitness project is to encourage people to reflect on these narratives and reimagine what exercise looks like to each of us. If you’re interested in exploring a new story around exercise, I’m running a virtual course in April called Foundations of Intuitive Fitness.

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me why I was so passionate about fitness. As I started to answer, I realized I needed to share my own journey with exercise. Here is that story. I was fifteen when my body first failed me. I was chasing my younger cousin on the beach and felt an unprecedented level of physical exhaustion. Instead of the normal voice claiming tiredness, I heard a primal scream from my body. As if my cells were yelling: "we can't do this". I had always been an active and energetic kid.

I've been thinking this week about milestones on the path of Intuitive Fitness. Uncovering your own motivation is a big one. Yet, there's another milestone that I most enjoy seeing people experience. It's the moment they first feel deep confidence in their own approach: “It’s working. I can do this. It’s only a matter of time” I’ve become fascinated by how more people can experience this faster. It’s hard to enjoy and sustain exercise if you lack belief in it: “Is this what I should be doing?

On Saturday, I took a Peloton Class. I was craving intense cardio but it was -15°F here in New England. I love a sprinkling of cold exposure, but this was too much even for a sucker for punishment like me. Normally when I ride, I listen to music and do a slow self-guided zone 2 ride. I try to keep my heart rate between 120 and 130 beats per minute, breathe slowly through my nose, and feel into my body. Yet, given the cold creeping through our windows, this wasn’t going to cut it.

Welcome! You’ve stumbled into a corner of the internet built around a surprisingly controversial idea: exercise can be enjoyable for everyone. Fitness is a loaded word. For some, it represents one of their favorite activities. It’s a source of joy, excitement, and pride. Yet, for many others, it evokes a flood of negativity. It’s a reminder of dread, failure, and guilt. Our focus here is exploring the shift from someone who forces themselves to exercise to someone who loves it.

There’s so much beneath the statement: “I want to exercise more”. “Why?” It’s rarely a simple answer. Often, people will respond with a common goal like lose weight, gain strength, or be healthy. This is typically just the tip of the iceberg.

Exercise helps us feel good in our bodies. Movement is often the best medicine for stiffness, lack of energy, low mood, and many other ailments. It unlocks our body, restores our balance, and increases our capacities. A huge piece of this is our mobility. This is our capacity to move freely and easily. It’s our ability to control movement through a range of motion. A lack of mobility restricts us or causes pain during activities of daily life.