THE SENSITIVITY TRAIT - EXERCISE - IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!

MOVE THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY

If there is one thing that I would say to sensitive people like me, it is to MOVE REGULARLY throughout each day.

We highly sensitive empaths are amazing beings at noticing more details and information around us than about 80% of the population. 

Information is power. So we are very powerful human beings because we get more information WITHOUT EVEN TRYING! Even if we consciously try to pretend that we don't get this input, our bodies unconsciously KNOW that we do. 

We are masters at sensing information. We are wired this way - from birth.  This information comes to us through energy in the room, dreams, hunches and intuitive hits. And then, not only do we receive more information, we also FEEL this information on a deeper level. Our brains are more stimulated, according to Dr. Elaine Aron's research, and light up more as we receive the information. That means, we not only absorb information without knowing it (unless we work on being more aware), we often can get over-stimulated, resulting in feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and fatigued more easily. Before we know it, our heart is racing like we drank 5 cups of coffee, and we are in overload. 

One of the best activities I have found to decompress and process this potential overload is regular exercise. 

Now I used to think I needed to do a 100-mile bike ride to really be in good shape. Well, if you can train for and successfully do a 100-mile bike ride, you MAY BE in good shape. But you may be over-stressing your physical body, especially your cardiovascular system, and again, that can lead to overload.

I often recommend to clients to be in touch with their bodies and go by how they feel. Well, we are in such a fast-paced, get-er-done world, that the hints from our bodies can go unnoticed and are not heard. And we like science too. So - thanks to the availability of genetic testing (like from companies such as 23andMe), we can now see how we as individuals can benefit the most from exercise based on our genes.

My genetic results say that I am an elite power athlete, meaning that I am suited for sprinting, throwing, and jumping due to my muscles which have fast-twitch fibers.

Someone who can do that 100-mile bike ride successfully would be a person who has slow-twitch muscle fibers. Which is obviously not me.

So it makes sense that I would be so very exhausted and physically depleted at the end of these long rides, no matter how much I trained. It also makes sense that I can do an intense sprinting or power lifting session, and my eyes are sparkling like I just fell in love! 

So back to being an empath.

Exercise should make your body feel good and relaxed. It should be aligned with you and your needs.  It clears your mind, works the stress out of your muscles and organs, and can give you a feeling of "Ahhhh." 

Now I'm not saying that an occasional amount of soreness and fatigue doesn't happen, particularly when you start a new exercise. I am saying that exercise can feel like a release and not a painful duty you have to do. It can feel fun, energizing and bring you peace of mind. It can help to balance your body to a more restful state by the end of the day. It can be incorporated into each day so that it becomes a way of life.

Some things I do:

• Park far away from the grocery store or work so I have to walk more
• Walk stairs as often as I can
• Balance on the street curb as I walk
• Attend different kinds of classes at the club (Yoga, Pilates, Diesel)
• Lift heavy things a couple times a week
• Sprint every 7-10 days
• Skip
• Use a standing desk at work so I can alternate my positions regularly
• Incorporate various stretches throughout my day, particularly for tighter muscles
• Walk the dogs
• Slide down a slide and hang on the monkey bars with the kids
• Race someone
• Play frisbee or disc golf with my husband and/or friends
• Do a circuit using outdoor equipment at a local park

What are some ways you move throughout your day?

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