Play, Lost and Forgotten

I am going to ask you something that has not crossed your mind for a very long time.  What happened to play?  Play, like in participating in an activity which you find challenging and fun with friends, a team, or a group of people with similar goals.  The answer to that question is we have lost play as we have grown up. 

As a kid “Play” was number one on our list of things to do for the day.  Try to remember when you were a kid, what was one thing you enjoyed doing outdoors with your friends that you couldn’t wait to get through the school day, finish your homework and then “See Ya” you were out the door having fun.  We were full of energy at the time, some can even say more flexible, athletic, and there wasn’t a challenge you were not ready to take on. 
Now let’s fast forward to the present day and take on the same concept.  Stay with me here, your mind is about to be blown.  Now the majority of us can’t wait to get out of work, take the kids to practice, whip something up for dinner or just get some take out.  Now is the time for the moment we have all been waiting for, you ready?  Relaxation!  This is usually on the couch with our friends “the snacks” watching some good series on T.V.  We know that we can afford to get healthier and maybe lose a couple of pounds but that’s why we have that gym membership in our back pocket.  We can always drag ourselves there and go through the motions. 
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I ask you to change the way you look at things and challenge yourself to incorporate “Play” back into your life.  Dedicate at least 1 hour 2-3 times a week to yourself, working on skills and movement exercises that you are only going to find outdoors, where it all started.  Dedicate this time to having fun and changing the way you look at Fitness so that you get back that energy, flexibility, and athleticism.  Don’t get me wrong, our schedules are full and we are busy all the time with the daily life grind.  Remember we only have one body, so let’s get back something that we have lost and long forgotten… Play!  How much better would you feel after a long day, sitting back on that couch ready to Relax having just dedicated an hour bettering yourself, getting back something that was missing in your life.  Now get comfortable and pass the snacks, you got this!