When Life Gets Heavy, Move Weight
Some of life’s heaviest times can be grief, food insecurity, fear of homelessness, incarceration. In times like these, you feel like you want to quit or just do nothing. Science says that exercise combats the effects of trauma and toxic stress. This is why I say choose weight lifting when life gets hard. Why? Because for some of us, it's easier than cardio but more importantly because it reflects the experience you're having.
Check it: weight lifting is about building muscle memory, breaking down fibers to build them back stronger, and decreasing your body fat (the -ish that doesn't serve you!) Next time you find yourself reminiscing about someone that’s gone forever, or you feel like everything (including yourself) is breaking down, or you feel stuck by something or someone: pick up your weights. Do 10 bicep curls and think about the memories you had with your lost loved one - MUSCLE MEMORY. Do 10 shoulder presses and visualize lifting yourself and the world around you up to the sky and when you bring them down do it slowly and imagine yourself and your world getting a little stronger each time you bring it down slowly - BREAKING DOWN TO GET STRONGER. Finally bent over row or whatever other exercise reminds you to let go of the things that don’t serve you now or ever - DECREASE THE ISH, YO!
