why all the fuss about exercise?
Hello, it’s an early morning. I begin the day: home, cleaning, breakfast, I take care of myself – I’m getting ready to start the day. I’m taking the kids to school. Back to start my day.
Here our story will split into two tracks:
1. The last times were not easy. I had slight health problems, a little race at work, there was a lot going on, sometimes too much. When another task appears on the horizon, I immediately feel resigned. In addition, I woke up not too early, because yesterday I got sucked into a too long movie. My body is tired because I don’t pay much attention to it in all that rush. I haven’t been doing yoga for 4 months, and the exercises come down to walking the dog…
When I finally catch a free moment, I feel mostly tired, with no desire to do anything. Even any scheduled task, before I start it is like Mount Everest for me. My brain tells me something like: you don’t have the strength, you can’t do it – before you start do a few more nonsense things, browse the whole tik tok, and then insta. I’m stuck & there are no good perspectives. There is no strength in me.
Yeah I know…sound a little dramatic, but changing few details I think we’ve all been there. Let’s check out the second track:
2. Recently I’ve been struggling with some health issues, so my body got weaker & a little lost. Also, the amount of work that suddenly sprouted from the ground seemed terribly overwhelming at first. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy time, especially since, apart from these extra complications, the rest of my life didn’t stop either. I try to find at least short moments during the day to stop, listen to myself and my body. It’s not easy. I can’t do much at the moment because I’m weak. So I try to choose the activities that I can do carefully.
At least once a day I sit down, breath & calm down. I try to enter a complete silence, just to be able to focus on myself for 10 minutes. When I’m calm, I can hear better what my body calls me for. I do a few undemanding exercises, after which I usually feel like I can do a little more. Every day my strength grows, and my head supported by an oxygenated body begins to make more and more courageous decisions. I become more open and willing to act. It’s not super easy, but little by little I’m coming back to myself.
I want to share my experience with you today. Despite the fact that I am a circus artist, there are different moments in my physical activity. Sometimes I give my body maximum attention, I’m in great shape, then I feel like I can move mountains. For a change, sometimes there are drops, even breaks of several months, when every day I feel like doing less and less. Life isn’t perfect, and I’m open to the fact that it happens anyway. However, I try to keep this active trend, because I have experienced the benefits of an efficient, oxygenated body that gives me the feeling that I can achieve anything.
Let’s take a look at what science says:
“Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.”
No doubts, it’s no myth or secret what are the benefits of exercises. What I would like to express ebout my own experience is how it affects our psyche, perception of the world, sense of self-confidence and inner strength. Let’s put it simply like this: when you exercise, you have clearer thoughts, become stronger mentaly & go forward.
If you associate exercise with a huge effort, you see a picture of a gym or a sport that scares you off, I encourage you to try hula hoop. In addition to its health benefits, it is simply great fun. If you want to dive deeper, read this article https://kafri.tv/benefits-of-hula-hooping/
Finding the activity that brings you joy is a great beginning.
And now I’m going to say something shocking, considering what I do professionally: I don’t think that hula hoop exercises alone are enough training…
…but I do think that hula hoop is a great tool to start moving, without having to do tiring sequences, a lot of effort from the very beginning. It is also great fun and a tool to connect with yourself through movement.
Have fun trying it out – on my website you can find all the support you need to begin.
Straight from the island, yours Kafri.
photo: Michal Pawlik