Physical Funness for the Motion Starved

Fit more fun into your fitness while exploring the outdoors.


Leave a comment

Take things in small bits

Falling Tree

Ever look at a photo of yourself and think, “gawd I look bad,” or some variation on that theme? I’m guessing that we all have. No matter how good you might look to someone else, we always seem to find something we don’t like about ourselves.

While I don’t subscribe to self-loathing thoughts, I do feel that we can learn from photos of ourselves.

For instance, the photo above is of me attempting a “Tree Pose.” While I’m no yoga master, I know enough to recognize that my form in this particular photo leaves something to be desired. I know better than to make the errors I made in this effort and I’m one of those people who feel that form is everything.  In my mind, you should strive for good form in everything you do. In athletic endeavors, form is as important as speed. You can’t go fast unless you have good form. This is a rule I live by. So, you can imagine how disappointed I was to see this photo of myself looking like a lopsided tree rather than the strong, Zen form I was attempting.

With that, I would like: Each of you reading this to find one recent photo of yourself that exposes something that you disapprove of. Then, I want you to make an effort this week to fix what you see. It’s just for this week. Sure, the changes you might want to make may need longer than a week to revise but taking things one week at a time is a start. I say lets take things in small bits. Large goals or changes can be intimidating. For now, all I’m asking is that you focus on one thing, for one week. You can do anything for a single week! Right?

So, for me, I have a list of things about myself that need revising but for this week (based on this one photograph) I’m going to focus on my yogic form, specifically my “Tree Pose.” I’ll do some research to confirm, but I know that my head should be centered and that my foot should never rest on my knee-joint (can be above or below). I know that my hips should be facing forward rather than the one hip that is scooching inward. While I realize that most of you reading this can’t imagine why I am so concerned about my Tree Pose, I want to remind you that we all have our issues, and for the purpose of this post, this is mine. So, look at some innocent photos of yourself and find one small thing to work on this week.

Are ya with me?


Leave a comment

Workin’ with what I got


Today my neighbor referred to me as “Big Butt.” Obviously she doesn’t like me much. I was shocked at first, in disbelief that a woman in her 50’s would behave so childishly and mean. Rather than launch a counter attack, I decided to turn away from the nasty woman and take my big butt away from her, and her insane nastiness.

For about 5 seconds I felt bad, she was right, I do have a big butt; I’ve had it all my life. No matter what I do, it stays big. Then I remembered all the cool things my big butt has done in it’s life, and all those who have appreciated it. And then I realized that I like my big butt! It’s big and round and it does all sorts of really amazing things really well. Including attract plenty of big butt loving boys, so take that, Nasty Neighbor lady!

Oddly enough, as I was thinking about this, the song “Work That” by Mary J. Blige started streaming through my ear buds. I’ve heard this song maybe 50 times but it wasn’t until today that I actually heard what was being said. The song is about working with what you’ve got and appreciating yourself no matter what people say. It’s spot on, and worth a listen. Below are the lyrics but it’s more fun to watch the video and read along. Listen to it, no matter who you are, and do it especially if you are a daughter, or have a daughter.

Have a great weekend. My lovely big butt and I will be back on Monday.

Kisses…

The lyrics to, Work That – by Mary J. Blige

Work your thing out, Work your thing out, Work your thing out, Work your thing out

Theres so many-a girls
I hear you been running
From the beautiful queen
That you could be becoming
You can look at my palm
And see the storm coming
Read the book of my life
And see I’ve overcome it
Just because the length of your hair ain’t long
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
Wanna hold your head high
Cause you’re a pretty woman
Get your runway stride home
And keep going
Girl live ya life

I just wanna be myself
Don’t sweat girl be yourself
Follow me, Follow me, Follow me
Girl be yourself
That’s why I be myself
And I’m gonna love it

Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don’t you get that?
Doesn’t matter if you’re going on with their plan
They’ll never be happy
Cause they’re not happy with themselves

Na na work what you got
I’m talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It’s okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don’t worry bout who’s saying what
It’s gonna be fine
Work what you got

Feelin great because the light’s on me
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
And aint a man alive could ever take it from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
Aint never ashamed what life did to me

Wasn’t afraid to change cause it was good for me
I wanna…

I just wanna be myself
Don’t sweat girl be yourself
Follow me, Follow me, Follow me
Girl be yourself
That’s why I be myself
And I’m gonna love it

Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don’t you get that?
Doesn’t matter if you’re going on with their plan
They’ll never be happy
Cause they’re not happy with themselves

Na na work what you got
I’m talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It’s okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don’t worry bout who’s saying what
It’s gonna be fine
Work what you got

Work that, Work that, Work that
Girl don’t hold back
You just be yourself [3x]

Na na work what you got
I’m talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It’s okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don’t worry bout who’s saying what
It’s gonna be fine
Work what you got

Work that, Work that, Work that
Girl don’t hold back
You just be yourself

Work that thing out, Work that thing out, Work what you got