For some people simply mustering the motivation to workout can be a challenge. And for others, the workout is a must, a routine, an important source of daily balance. Whichever the case, few people truly embrace the workout. When reading this article, I would like for you to think about your ability to "run above the line", to fully value the workout and to enable your mind to grow along with your strength and stamina. In your next workout, and those to follow, please consider the following guidelines:

The goal: Give your best effort each moment. This includes being present, being in the now, feeling each movement, embracing the challenges and maintaining a positive attitude. It is also important to have fun while finding the value.

The process: Realize that each moment you have the choice to accept or judge your effort, your performance and your self-worth.

Accept: The choice to accept demands that you be very present, calm and positive, aware of your breathing and able to feel your mechanics. It's like running on the beach in soft sand or up a steep hill, when the "struggle" forces you to focus on each step and make your form perfect.
Note: The act of acceptance is made easier with a solid work ethic, good technique and mental training skills that allow you be calm, ask your self the right questions and be present under pressure.

Judge: The choice to judge results in a harsh reaction, a moment of doubt and critical evaluation and ultimately "false fatigue". It's like getting down on your self and feeling bad about your performance because you are unable to compete with a faster runner. By definition "false fatigue" is a red flag; a warning that you are about to create drama and experience some form of negative distress.

Self-evaluation: Please rate your ability to be calm, reflect and be present.

Calm: To be able to breathe before, during or after your workout and relax your face, drop your shoulders, feel the emotions and settle into the moment and be calm. The key is to release any resistance to your experience, mental judgment or negative emotions related to your expectations.

Reflect: To be able to focus on your breathing, to STOP the chatter in your mind and check in with yourself, to monitor your thoughts and feelings. The key is to be able to command yourself to stop the "negative", to put an end to any judgment and related "less than" thoughts.

Be Present: To bring yourself into the now, to embrace the moment and feel your mechanics. The key is to get back into working with grace, poise and strength.

In his book, THE POWER of NOW, Eckhart Tolle uses a beacon of light to describe the ability to see through the fog of your life situation. The "fog" is used to represent any negative emotion; false fatigue, fear, anger, resentment and/or regret that prevent you from being present. The challenge is to see through the "fog" during a workout and be present and run above the line. The reward is in your feelings: the "buzz" related to being so present and so positive, the surge of confidence that comes with being fit and the satisfaction with "self" that comes when you give your best effort.