April/May 2023 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 58

58 www . AspireMAG . net | April / May 2023
You know one of the main reasons ? We ’ re embarrassed .
That ’ s right . We have a greater dissatisfaction with our bodies in comparison with most men . 2 Another reason ? You guessed it . Grown-up women do most of the household chores and childcare . 3
So , why am I talking about exercise and sports in a feminine spiritual outlet ? What better place to speak to body expression ? Women , no matter the basis of their sexual and gender identifications , have the right to enjoy their bodies , and exercise is key to this endeavor .
I ’ ve learned you don ’ t need to be super athletic to get a move on it . To be honest , my sport of choice is walking the dogs and hiking . My dogs are old . We ’ re not exactly hoofing it . At least the latter hobby involves climbing steep mountains — although I make sure that I ’ m near a taxi in case I need a leg up .
In fact , most of my time in official athletic venues has been spent as a mom in the bleachers . I ’ m terribly talented at warming a cold Minnesota bench in the rain , sleet , and snow . But the thing is that embracing and creating deep health doesn ’ t require being able to slip on super-skinny , modelesqueapproved Lululemon garb . It does , however , enable a shift in perception .
If self-shaming ever impacts your physical activity , change your self-perception . There are two chief ways I suggest doing this .

1

See your subtle not only physical self .
Of course , we are — and have — a physical body . And all sports — any sport — is a means of loving that body . I don ’ t care if you ’ re

... embracing and creating deep health doesn ’ t require being able to slip on super-skinny , modelesqueapproved Lululemon garb .

a weekend warrior , yogini , runner , team participant , or dawn dog walker , like me . You are also more than your body .
In fact , you are an energy being . Energy is information that moves , and absolutely everything is made of it . However , less than one percent of all energy is physical . More than 99.9999-plus percent is subtle , or quantum , psychic , or spiritual . A sport obviously requires movement or the expenditure and management of physical energies , but your self-image should be based on your subtle or “ true ” self , not just your bodily being .
Do yourself a favor . Take a couple of moments , right now .

58 www . AspireMAG . net | April / May 2023