Why I'm Passionate About Fitness Ministry

Spirituality and Fitness -- Do They Go Together?

Spirituality and Fitness
We tend to think of physical fitness as being something that is purely physical. I mean, the word physical is right in there. But there are important spiritual aspects to your fitness and health as well. I'm not talking just about religion here -- although that is part of it. I'm talking about spiritual and emotional factors.
Human beings are not just physical creatures. We have emotional needs. We have mental needs. And we have spiritual needs. You cannot neglect any of these areas if you want to live a healthy and balanced life.
Peace and Stress
Stress is something that we need -- up to a point. Without some stress things get pretty boring. But our busy lifestyles and ever changing society have led to constant stress which has very serious implications for our health and fitness. Stress hormones make losing weight difficult and also drain our energy if we don't have time to recuperate and rest.
You need to take some time to get in touch with your inner self as well as being in touch with God. We all have different notions about who or what God is (or if there is such a thing) but regardless of your concept of God, it is important that you spend time connecting spiritually. For some this will involve prayer and study. For others meditation. Even just taking time to smell the roses can be refreshing.
Your spirit is the source of joy and peace in your life. It is the place where you can combat stress. You need to be aware of how harmful stress (and other negative emotions) can be to your physical body. Learning to deal with them in a positive way will help your body to be healthier and stronger as well.
Make Time
I heard a comment recently that many Christians are so busy that the only prayer time that they have is on the run. That really resonates with me and I'm sure that regardless of your religious beliefs, you will find that you don't have the time for reflection and introspection that you need. Without it you will find that your energy levels are constantly draining. You will find that your stress levels constantly rise. You will find that your life lacks joy and peace.
You need to make time for your spiritual self. Pick a time that you know you can consistently set aside for this. Maybe it's only 5 minutes in the morning before getting ready for school or work. Maybe you can squeeze 15 minutes on your lunch break or before bed. Whatever time you can manage, make it a habit to spend that time quietly in whatever fashion is important to you. Pray. Read. Memorize. Meditate. Breathe. Relax.
You may be thinking "I just can't afford to spend the time." Well, the fact is that you really can't afford not to. Having this daily time of refreshment can bring dividends that make the rest of your day a little bit smoother. It won't make the problems disappear, but it will help you to deal with them more effectively.

If you are ever in the San Dimas area in Southern California on a Tuesday night, stop by our Free New Song Fit Club workouts (7-8pm) to see how we are getting in shape both physically and spiritually. Contact me or my wife Leslie for details. Our information is listed under our profile. See you soon.