One Simple, Effective Way to Commit to Doing Exercise

If you are struggling to make a commitment to your physical practice, that is to say your yoga, your Pilates, your dance, your exercise, there is a simple and effective way to help yourself along: Write your intention down and put it in a place you can see it regularly. A visual reminder of what you want to achieve with your practice raises the likelihood you will achieve it.

Creating a note that's big enough to see, and in a place that can be seen on a daily basis that states what you want to achieve, Do Yoga!, for example, will bring your wide-ranging attention back to your chosen commitment. Other visual reminders could be your yoga mat, your sneakers, your gym membership, etc. You get the idea. Keep the reminders in sight. Let them be there as a part of your daily basis of Life. You will see and remember the larger commitment you made to yourself day, weeks, months before.

Pretty simple? Definitely. Hard to practice? Absolutely. So forgive yourself on those days when you cannot follow through and allow the practice to be there as a reward on those days when you do follow through. And, every now and then, remember, it is okay to make yourself "just do it" when you don't want to. A gentle forcing, an easy push, to make yourself to something you don't want to do, but do want to do, is the basis of discipline. But it is essential to not feel resentment or ill-will toward yourself or the practice on the days you force yourself.

Let your doing be as easy as your not doing!