So, to answer your question of “What’s the best exercise for me?” should be followed with another question:
"What is your goal?"
Every person has a different goal. Common goals clients first talk about are: “I want to be stronger. I want to be more fit. I want to get rid of my pain. I want to lose weight. I want to return to my favorite exercise routine. I want to feel like me again!” This is a wonderful start and I encourage clients to be more specific. What do you want to be stronger, fitter, healthier, in less pain to do? “I want to have less pain so I can go back to work. I want to be stronger to walk up my driveway and stairs again. I want to have more energy so I can cook for my family.” The more specific you can be at naming your goals, the better you can plan your exercise program.
Now you must identify, “What exercise or physical activities do you like to do?” This is so important! Again, as an expert on exercise, I can rattle off lists of exercises that it would make your head spin. Healthcare providers, friends and family will tell you what they think you should be doing. But if you have no interest whatsoever in the exercise or activity that was suggested to you, then I can guarantee that you will not do it and start working towards your very important goals. So, then what’s the point?
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