I am almost 62 years old and for the past year have been doing swimming and pilates on a reformer. But lately, my regimen is gentle yoga, swimming and walking outside, ranging from 20-45 minutes. I have been working out at home since Jane Fonda put out her first exercise record album when I was in my 20's. I really think I have done almost everything out there-The Firm, Fitprime, Cathe, Barre, Pilates, Beachbody, Prevention, running, walking, hard yoga (even though I probably had not enough yoga experience, but didn't want to start easy), Kathy Smith, etc, etc. In my mid 40's I started to develop chronic headaches, which progressed to chronic joint pain, stomach aches, various joint surgeries (multiple knee meniscus repairs, hip labrum tear repairs, hand surgeries) The only body aware thing I think I ever did was stop getting up at 5am to exercise before getting my kids up off and then going to work. I moved my workouts to later in the day, and no matter if I was spent from the day, I just kept pushing and pushing. Gentle yoga? Phhhh! Nope! A gentle leisurely walk while I take in the nature around me? Nope! I walked with fast music pulsing in my ears to make sure my heart rate was nice and elevated. Lighen my weights, even though I ache all over? Nope! No slowing down for me!! Even my pilates had to be on the more intense side. Then 3 years ago I started working with a holistic health coach, which happened to coincide with a major health issue requiring a 6 hour surgery and leading to a diagnosis of autoimmune disease. These past 3 years have been eye-opening. At the beginning my coach wanted me to cut my swim to no more than a hallf hour. I didn't completely listen at that time. But now I am doing gentle yoga, often with a chair. walking mindfully and enjoying the experience, and swimming about 45 minutes 3 times a week. But if a day comes and I'm tired, I ask myself, what would really be best for my body? And if a nap, or a cup of tea sounds better than a walk or swim, etc. that's what I do. And I wish I had known this in my 20's and luckily my 29 year old daughter doesn't seem to have the issues I had. I always flucuated within a 10 pound range, fretting if it crept up. I rarely weigh myself now and I'm pretty steady at the bottom end of that range. I know this thread is about benefits of lowing intensity, but I thought this speaks to it and a broader, deeper way that affects many exercisers. Lowering the intensity of my exercise has been a game changer for me. I feel so good in general AND after I do it. And isn't that the whole point?
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