Benefits of Suffering
This week I got some hate mail in response to my last post about adding circuit training, suggesting that it is "potentially dangerous" to add push-ups to a cardio workout unless you completely cool down prior to going to the floor. Yes, I admit that this would be potentially dangerous for my grandma or for anyone just beginning a workout routine. As my buddy Dan says, just getting out of bed is potentially dangerous. But I must point out that my class members tend to be very fit and if they don't want to do push-ups or cannot do push-ups, guess what? They don't. Suffering, particularly when we approach our tolerance threshold, has great value and I worry that people may turn away from certain exercises not because they are "potentially dangerous" but because that's the path of least resistance (har-har). It's so easy to say no thanks. But mindfully training the body in a variety of ways allows us to differentiate between our actual limits and our perceived limits.
Pushing to the occasional point of suffering challenges us to remain calm in spite of anxiety and gosh-darn-it , to get stronger even though it burns! If you're exercising and suffering and you hear a voice in your head saying things like "I'm never gonna get stronger" or "I can't do this any longer" or "Look at him, he's so strong and I'm getting my tail kicked," that's the moment to confront yourself and question your own self-talk.
I'm not saying you should push through the pain of injury or illness or any sharp, shooting pain. If your heart is pounding out of your chest from deconditioning or over-training, listen to your body and slow down! I'm not saying you should tell yourself, "this doesn't hurt at all, I'm feeling super!" But by noticing any negative self- talk, you have the opportunity to replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts. For example, you can remind yourself of your goals by thinking "I want to fit into my dress for the reunion."
You can come up with realistic counter-statements, like " I'm doing more today than I've ever managed before." or "I feel myself getting stronger." You can use affirmations like "I can do this!" or "I'm stronger than I realize." Try using cue words like "Stay Strong" or ""Feeling Fit" and see if you don't see better results from pushing mindfully harder.
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