Written by John Immel, Asheville, NCFor most people, if you have to breathe through your mouth, your exercise routine is too intense. In Ayurveda, consistency is usually better than intensity. If you overdo it, you'll hurt your body and find it harder to keep up the pace.

Professional athletes that want to push their body must take care to build and maintain Ojas - and avoid the temptation to lose too much weight. Weight loss dries out your body which will eventually grind down your joints.

For the individual who isn't used to exercising, even a five minute stretch can be a great start. Who knows, it may eventually lead to a daily 20 minute walk!

For those with a long workday, take a short walk in the afternoon on your break from work or at lunch, especially if your job involves sitting all day. It will keep your blood from feeling heavy and stagnant. Stretch every time you go to the bathroom. If you work from home or have some privacy, stretch whenever you are talking on the phone.

Read more about keeping a routine here

Tips to Improve Athletic & Exercise Performance

• Improve digestion: Poor digestion drains your body of energy and makes you weak.
• Improve circulation: Good circulation improves athletic performance. Turmeric, Ginkgo, and Holy Basil all improve circulation.
• Improve flexibility and range of motion: Stretching, warming herbs like turmeric, and detoxifying can improve flexibility and range of motion.
• Blood tonics: Blood tonics like Ashwagandha help increase red blood cell, improving exercise performance.
• Nitric Oxide: Foods with nitric oxide are know to dilate blood vessels and improve performance.
• Muscle tonics: These directly strengthen muscle.

See remedies to improve exercise tolerance Try Belly Breathing

Exercise Warms You Up

Feel cold all the time? Daily exercise will keep your inner fire strong and you'll feel warm. You'll need at least 20 minutes a day outdoors to experience these benefits. Exercise also lightens up your mind and keeps you thinking clearly for the rest of the work day, as well as working out any aches and pains that may creep in during a long day of sitting.

Build Confidence

Gentle exercise is a win-win activity. As it strengthens your bones, muscles, and circulatory system. It also detoxifies your body, improves mental clarity, and reduces stress. It improves your emotional state and can interrupt the debilitating loop of sadness and depression. Over time you will begin to feel more confident. In Ayurveda, the emotional function of muscle tissue is confidence. You will notice as your muscles become stronger you will feel like you can do anything. You'll climb the stairs more easily, pick up your child without straining, get the new job you want, and feel happier in your skin.

Enjoy the Exercise

As you exercise, focus on what you enjoy about exercise rather than the thought "I am doing this to lose weight," or "I am doing this because I am supposed to." Attune your senses to the moment and environment as you walk or move, whether it's on a beautiful mountain path, a city street, or your living room. When you exercise outdoors enjoy the sound of birds and the beauty of nature. The fact is that exercise makes you feel good. Spending time in nature helps your body acclimate to the season.

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