If you’re a person who has always viewed exercise as something of a chore, or too hard, it may be time to find ways of moving your body that are enjoyable to you.

Our bodies are designed for movement and exercise should be a source of joy and pleasure. You don’t have to be athletic or thin to enjoy exercise.

Many people only view exercise as a means to a goal – to lose weight and get in shape. Social media is full of before and after body transformations. Most of these won't be long lasting.

Movement has so many more benefits than that. It releases stress, lifts our spirits, helps manage anxiety, makes our heart stronger, increases creativity and focus, wards off brain aging, and increases our self-esteem and sense of self-efficacy. It's also a great tool for emotional eating. I find when I'm in a blue mood or upset about something,  instead of emotional eating, a walk outside does wonders for me.

With joyful movement, the focus is on feeling good. The main reward is pleasure. When you find something that is pleasurable to you, you’re more apt to stick with it. The added bonus of course, is that it might help you lose weight and/or get fitter, but those are secondary benefits.

To find movement that is joyful, ask yourself? “What activities do I find fun?” “What activities did I like to do as a child?” "What movements make my body feel good?"

I'm a life long exerciser. I love dancing and during the day I take boogie breaks and dance in my living room like no one is watching, and no one is except for my cat! I also love walking, yoga, swimming, and weight training.

I enjoy challenging myself with the weights and the feeling of strength it gives me. At 66, I'm much stronger than I was at 30. It comes in handy when I need to carry several bags of groceries on my arm! I do all these things mainly because they make me feel great and because of that, I’m very committed to doing them.