For the past couple of months I’ve been going through new job training. The position: Mom. One thing I’ve discovered is that motherhood is challenging, to say the least. I could say, and have heard it described countless times as hard, though I believe nothing is anything until we name it and if I’d prefer to let the easy into my life (see my past blog post on Deserving Moms) why would I name anything hard? I certainly do not prefer to experience hard, so I’ll name it more accurately as challenging. To me, a challenge is an opportunity to succeed and discover how capable I am. Believing that only that which I am fully equipped to handle shows up in my life, I embrace challenges and chose to perceive them as a positive thing.

Continuing from my previous post on how deserving moms are of creating a life full of challenges as easy as possible, taking time to honor our physical body by giving it what it requires to thrive: quality nutrition, proper hydration, plenty of movement and ample rest, is essential. Creating a health conscious lifestyle (which I’ll discuss in more detail in part three of this Letting the Easy In blog series) serves moms and their families in such a beautiful way.

My daughter and husband deserve for me to be well rested so that it is easier for me to be kind, loving, patient and generous with them and myself. Heck, I deserve that peaceful experience as well! My daughter deserves for me to be able to hold or carry her as long as required for her to feel safe, comfortable, and cherished. And I deserve to do so without shoulder, neck, back or arm discomfort. (Seriously, I do not know how moms carry around car seat buckets all day! Luckily I more often chose to wear my child in a wrap or sling so I rarely have to experience that haul.) This ease in my body and mind, and improved quality of sleep are just a couple of the many benefits gained from honoring my physical body—the vehicle for my soul, my gift from God to navigate this world—with regular movement and exercise.

Exercise is not something reserved for the ultra-healthy or those desiring to shed a few pounds. It’s a basic need, like breathing, that when met, allows us to tap into the true potential we have physically, and in our life experience. It is not a chore, it’s a gift. An endless gift you chose to give to yourself, your family and the world around you. Choosing to give this gift, regardless if it’s for only ten-minutes a day, is something you are so deserving of receiving. Life is a physical event, so begin viewing yourself as an athlete. If you need a bit more encouragement to do so, I recommend reading a post I wrote last year on Honoring Your Inner Athlete.

If adding exercise still evokes feelings of one more chore in your life, challenge yourself to redefine what exercise and working out looks like to you. No need to join expensive gyms—though they do offer the added benefit of getting out of the house for moms, sometimes offer childcare if needed, and can add the bonus of fun classes to spice up your routines; spend hours slaving away—seriously, raising your heartbeat for 10-15 minutes even just three days a week is better than zero-minutes seven days a week; or any other reason your mind is giving you right now to not do it. As I would encourage you to do with everything you do in life, find a way to move that makes your heart sing!  Here’s some ideas to get you started:

• Create a dance mix to listen to every morning and turn your living room into a private dance club.
• Go outside for a walk around your neighborhood and challenge yourself to pass a few more houses every couple of days while taking the same amount of time.
• Challenge yourself to clean a room in the fastest amount of time possible and accomplish two needs at once.
• Get your kids involved in your movements, ask them for ideas, encourage them to participate, or use them (carefully of course) as added weight to some resistance training like I’ve started doing with my almost 18-pound baby.
• Take 10-15 minutes to skip, frolic, romp, hop, shake, shimmy, boogie, squat, lunge, stretch, discover what you like, discard what you don’t, just get out of your everyday routine of motions (or lack thereof) and MOVE IT!!!

How you move doesn’t matter…THAT you move does. You will find ALL of your life becomes easier with an increased level of fitness. Climb stairs with ease, tote heavy laundry baskets without a grunt, get out of bed without needing to hit the snooze button, and most importantly have the energy and physical strength required to give your children and your family all that they deserve.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my posting & I’ll be posting great new information, tips & tools regularly. If you have a recipe you’d like for me to try out & review, topics you’d like to hear about, or any other comments, feedback, or suggestions, kindly send me a message to AskCrissy@gmail.com and I will address the matter in a future blog posting. Be sure to subscribe to my Blog & YouTube Channel, visit my website regularly, and follow me on Facebook & Twitter, to stay plugged in to all of my offerings. As always, I wish you infinite love, blessings, peace, and joy as we take this journey together. I am blessed & honored to share my path with you.

Crissy