Exercise helps in many areas of life, not just physical health, but also with mental health and clarity. People who exercise are generally more successful in life, with increased self-discipline and endurance, and a stronger will to accomplish goals. There are many studies you can find online proving this, but also your own personal experience will prove it to you. If you are currently out of shape like most people, you can change.
Exercise on its own raises bioelectricity and prana in the body. I find my yoga program to be much better if I incorporate exercise near-daily. Even some squats and push-ups before hatha will result in a stronger buzz after the yoga.
A lot of people in general, and members here, have various problems that would be solved by adopting a strict exercise regime. It helps train the mind, and also takes time each day which is often otherwise used in wasting time or rumination. Being strict with exercising will help you control yourself and focus on grounding and reality. You won't be as likely to be delusional or lost in negativity. The endorphin rush is also a massive benefit, but I won't get into this as it's easy to find out about this online. Time should be taken each day to focus on conditioning the physical body, this will help your mind, your mood, and even your soul.
A great method to get through your day is to take a few 5 minute breaks, and do some exercise. A warm up such as neck rolls, some arm circles, roll out your wrists and ankles, and then do some squats, lunges, crunches, full push ups (even if you can only manage a few), and whatever you enjoy. Even 5 minutes of this will raise your energy and leave you feeling more exhilarated to continue your daily tasks, and get you through the mid-afternoon slumps that many people are prone to. If you are in a workplace, don’t worry if others see you; having exercise breaks is becoming more popular and commonplace, and you might even inspire others to join you, thus improving the life of other people.
Everyone, including women, will benefit by putting on some muscle. It will help with daily tasks, increase balance and coordination, and give you more energy to get through your day.
Purchases
Many people, when they start a new hobby, they buy a bunch of equipment that they don’t even need. Or they use them for a short while, and get bored of the hobby quickly and never use the equipment again.
A better mindset and method: work with what you have, and reward yourself with something new that you need or would realistically benefit from every so often. For example, set a goal to consistently jog or run 2-3 days a week for a month in whatever clothes you happen to have that are appropriate for running. At the end of that month, reward yourself with a new piece of specific running clothing. Another example: workout with whatever old clothes you happen to have, and when you reach a target weight-loss goal after 3 months, go buy yourself some nice workout clothes.
Don’t buy everything at once; put yourself on a reward system instead. This will keep you motivated, and is more practical on your wallet.
For those looking to lose weight but are unwilling or unable to run outside or go to a gym, you can get a stationary bike for fairly cheap (and don’t be reluctant to buy one second hand). If you’re a couch potato like many people, park your bike in front of your tv and ride while watching something, but make sure you are challenging yourself on the bike and not just lazily and slowly moving your legs.
Learning
If you’re working out at home, it is imperative that you learn proper alignment! Most workout injuries are from improper alignment or not paying attention during the movement. There are endless resources available to learn. Take the time to go over each movement you will do, study it then practice slowly and carefully first. Once you feel you’ve mastered it, then you can do it normally. This will take a bit of extra time at first but will benefit you for the rest of your life, and ensure you can continue your exercise program risk-free.
It’s also good for the mind to learn things; each thing you learn, increases your confidence, capability, and your trust in yourself.
There are many videos available for free on Youtube and other websites. However, there are also a lot of misconceptions and confusion, due to the amount of trainers wanting to cash in, gain fame, gain followers, and so on. And there are so many fads. Find what you realistically want, look around and try various programs and see what works best for you. Find an instructor who knows what they are doing and makes you feel good. See a trainer in person if you are able to, they will give you advice tailored for your needs and help you with a program.
Genders
Exercise in general is not gender-specific. Trainers only emphasis gender to appeal to a demograph and get more views (“curvy legs workout for women!” “strong shoulder workout for men!” etc). So if you are a female, following along to a male trainer is not going to give you a manly body. And if you are male, female trainers do know what exercises will give you the muscle gains you want.
Don’t hesitate to try a workout thinking it’s only for the opposite gender. Pilates was designed by a man for men, but seems to be mainly done by women these days; I highly recommend it for both genders as it helps with functionality and mobility of the body, even just one session a week (along with your regular routine) will give you benefits.
For women specifically
You will not bulk up much (unless that is your goal), but exercise will add definition and curves to your body.
Many women cut calories too much when exercising. This gives you the appearance of being weak, not enough muscle definition (not shapely legs), and looking tired. When training, you need to fuel your body. You should aim to be healthy and vibrant, with enough energy to keep up with your daily life. Exercise, when combined with properly fueling you body with the food it needs, will give you more energy for everything else in life.
It is common, for young women especially, to work on the abs or glutes and not the rest of the body. There are young women with a 6-pack or a disproportionately large butt, but toothpick arms and legs. This looks disproportionate. The entire body should be developed evenly.
Regarding modifications common for women, push-ups should be done properly, not on the knees. Full push-ups work the entire body and help the cardiovascular system. To start with, do one or 2 properly, then rest for a few moments, then try another one or two. Do this again later in the day. This is far better than doing 10 or 20 on the knees.
For men specifically
We see too often here, men complaining that they are not handsome, not attracting women, or other complaints regarding attractiveness. All you have to do is get in shape and you will level up a lot. It doesn’t matter even if you’re bald or considered ugly; if you get in shape and look strong, you are automatically more attractive than the vast majority of men. I know the media pushes the “scrawny dainty pretty boy” trend, ignore it. Look to our Gods for inspiration, not the media that wants men to be weak.
And make sure your body is functional. Don’t fall for the trend of bulking up but not being able to move naturally.
Final note
Whatever exercise program you look for, your main (or only) goal should be to feel good – feel healthy, energetic, and vibrant. This is life, and should be what all Zevists aim for. We have this physical body, we need to take care of it and utilize it for our spiritual advancement.
-HPS Lydia
