4 ways exercise can bring you joy

Can you make your favourite workout a non-negotiable?

Jul 20, 2024

For me, it’s Zumba. It’s my go-to stress reliever and all-round joy bringer.

Within minutes of starting class this morning, I had a beaming smile and it felt like the sun was radiating from my heart, filling me with happiness (corny, I know!) I’ve missed a couple of months due to a shoulder injury, so this flash of jubilance was especially potent.

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At breakfast, I’d read

Chris Guillebeau

’s insightful article on creating personal Rules of Engagement as pre-decisions to guide you through your day and help maintain the barriers you need to manage your time and space.

As I danced around the studio, it dawned on me that Zumba has become my non-negotiable exercise. It makes me joyful without fail and it’s the one gym class I won’t cancel for socialising or work events.

What’s a non-negotiable pleasure in your life?

Hi, I’m Holly - coach, mindfulness facilitator and author of Zestful Zen. I write about self-care, change, personal growth, mindfulness, and purpose. If you like life to be full of zest and energy, complemented by a zen, calm mind, Zestful Zen is the community for you! 💖✨

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Zumba ticks all my exercise boxes, giving me the “Four Ms” that I crave most

Movement

Nothing loosens up my body like Zumba. It’s the perfect antidote to a long day hunched over a keyboard staring at a screen.

As we dance, my tense muscles relax, my vertebrae unlock and my hips open. I find a real zing in my (sweaty) steps. By the time I leave the studio I feel taller, more flexible, and physically exhausted in the best possible way. I sleep so well on Zumba days!

What gets you moving joyfully?

Mind

Exercise is my go-to stress reliever, helping me get out of my own head and switch off after a hectic day at work. Zumba definitely ranks top for this.

When you’re concentrating on dance steps, singing along to lyrics and having fun shaking your arse, there’s no space for dwelling on that mistake you made earlier or worrying about the tough conversation you need to tackle tomorrow.

What’s your go-to for calming a whirring mind?

Music

With the beats pumping, Zumba often feels like you’re in the best summer party that everyone wants to be at!

There’s something intensely uplifting about the Latin, Afrobeats, and Arabic tracks my teacher plays. It’s contagious, you just can’t help swaying to the rhythm and imagining you’re at Carnival, even in the dreary depths of winter (when I need my virtual sunshine fix the most).

What beats bring you joy?

Motivation

I often envy runners and the seeming ease with which they get in the zone, the solitary rhythm of their pounding feet propelling them forward. That’s so not me.

I need the collective drive that comes from a room full of people giving it their all. We might have different paces, but we’re in it together. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, with genuine friendships sparked in the studio.

Also, my teacher is AWESOME! She brings energy, enthusiasm and joie de vivre every time. Her positive spirit is infectious and we all respond in kind, giving 110% back. It’s no coincidence that I burn way more calories in Zumba than in any other class.