For some folks, creating a gym routine is a natural and enjoyable part of their lifestyle. It’s helpful for maintaining and even expanding fitness levels through cardio work or lifting weights. Our own Andrea Clements, Office Manager, loves her habit of visiting Anytime Fitness for sessions on the elliptical and utilizing a lifting regimen. 

However, therapist Holly Schweitzer Dunn finds this form of exercise less than exciting. “Anyone who knows me knows that I strongly dislike working out. Seeing people run nowhere on treadmills seems like the personification of depression and hopelessness. Hearing grunts and groans as men and women max out their muscles to the point of damage seems counterintuitive. I believe fitness should be a regular part of a person’s life, done with ease and joy rather than suffering.”

It seems there are others who agree with her. 

Olga Khazan writes for The Atlantic: “In the approach’s slow simplicity, it could be a more sustainable way to exercise…doing whatever physical activity you can whenever it’s convenient is still a decent way to burn a few calories and feel less sedentary. An exercise strategy intended for Navy SEALs is actually perfect for everyday cubicle dwellers.

“But in a way, it fits with a broader cultural trend of embracing imperfection and simply trying one’s best. Americans’ stressed-out lives have given rise to a new philosophy in which we are, essentially, encouraged to admit defeat on certain things (spotless kitchens, impeccable pecs, and so forth). Our schedules won’t ease up on us, the thinking goes, so maybe we should ease up on ourselves.”

For those who are trying to integrate movement into their everyday lifestyle, perhaps this more natural approach – what you can, when you can – will indeed “grease the groove” for your brain and your body to adapt to newer ranges of motion or added strength. Exercise then becomes not “one more thing to do” but a way of living mindfully with your body.