Learning to listen

Okay, so in my last post I talked about how I was officially home and was going to get back into a workout schedule and such, but then I was informed that I was helping my sister move to Arizona with her family...
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my family and I was so happy to help, but I was tired of eating fast food and not getting my regular workout in!
I'm home now though and tomorrow morning is leg day!

These past few days of traveling though have really got me thinking.
I follow a blog on Tumblr and the girl who runs it really emphasizes listening to your body. At first, I didn't agree with her and thought she was a little loopy, but then I realized how true this idea is.

Learning to listen to your body is obviously not literal. It means knowing what your body needs and what it wants to get rid of. For example, knowing when your body needs food with a certain type of vitamin, or when it just needs a chocolate break. This is also applied to exercising- knowing when your body needs a rest day, or realizing when your body wants to do more or less of something (i.e.: abs, cardio, etc.). This skill obviously does not come over night. To acquire this skill, you need to be patient. Do things you love, but keep your body in mind while doing them. By this I mean, keeping your body in mind when you eat. Make sure you take your time when eating. "Listen" by taking breaks and asking yourself, "am I still hungry?" "More pasta sounds great, but would more fruit be as satisfying?"
Of course, these questions are hard when it comes to working out. This has been my recent struggle, deciphering when I actually need a rest day or if I'm just being lazy. But like I said, it's an acquired skill.
Being the beginner yoga-fan I am, I'd like to recommend yoga for helping learning to listen to your body. While doing yoga, you stretch and bend and the entire time, you have to think about what feels good, what hurts, and remember to breathe. Basically, listening to your body for however long you choose to do your yoga session!

So this week, as the holidays are dying down and everyone is heading back to school, take a break and listen. Think about each decision you make and consider if it is healthy for you and those around you.

Happy new year!