A Fresh Perspective ...

... Sometimes we need to consider things from another perspective.  That's why I've asked my sis-in-law-extraordinaire Jaime to add her two cents to this blog.  Jaime is a certified holistic health coach who is full of great advice about healthy living.  Here's what she has to say to busy moms about running:

The Case for Running:

We all know that exercise is good for us; it boosts our endorphins, improves our circulation, increases immune function, helps us maintain healthy blood sugar levels, keeps us in shape, reduces our risk for disease, and even prolongs our life. But sometimes when life gets hectic, like when we have kids, it drops on our list of priorities. 

Here's the thing- exercise is more than just the sum of its health benefits.  Exercise is a 'Primary Food.' Primary foods are those things that nourish us in life but don't come on a plate, like relationships, career, and exercise. The idea is that when your primary foods are in balance, it makes what you eat secondary. In other words, there is way more to exercise than just exercise! It literally feeds you and nourishes you, just like food does.  Exercise is food for our soul; it's a nutrient as important as Vitamin C.  It may offer you some time to breathe deeply, to process stress, to have some alone time or to be social, depending on what type of exercise you choose. For many parents, it offers a form of 'me-time;' something you are doing for just yourself. When you're in a care-giving role, sometimes it's easy to forget to take care of you too. 

What's particularly great about something like a runner's club, is that you are also getting the primary foods of community, relationships, joy, and fresh air. Plus there's built-in motivation, support and  accountability to boot. To help motivate you to put exercise back up on your list of priorities, consider the important ways that it feeds you, then add it back onto your weekly menu!

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Jaime Saginor

Certified Holistic Health Coach

Thanks for your insights Jaime - food for thought for sure!  Moms, if you're curious about what else Jaime has to say, check out Jaime's website and sign up for her monthly e-newsletter for more tips and motivation for living a healthy life!