Getting a Divorce? Alternative Ways to Exercise your Problems Away
The famous Holmes and Rahe’s scale, which analyzes what life-changing events cause stress and physical illness, rates divorce at 73. Two or three years after a divorce, many divorcees suffer from health problems such as ulcers, heart trouble, diabetes or even cancer.
Whether stress affects your physical health will depend on the choices you make during and after your proceedings. One common way to release stress is to exercise. It’s normal and quite common to get bored of the same old exercise routine.That’s why it’s important to try different routines. But you can go beyond that to get out of your divorce funk and into a post workout high.
Who would think that the flying trapeze could actually help heal you emotionally? It does have healing powers. “In order to survive a wave of grief and other residual feelings one needs to add activities in your life that are enlivening such as the flying trapeze,” says Jonathon Conant, founder of the Trapeze School New York, which has three locations including Boston, New York City and Baltimore. The flying trapeze allows students a moment of complete freedom and gives them the ability to let go.
Kick your problems away.
Powerstrike, which combines martial arts and kickboxing will take your mind off the never-ending divorce problems and force you to focus just on the movements for the duration of the class. “It’s like putting someone on a mountain trail; they are just thinking about the next step,” says Ilaria Montagnani, founder of five programs including Powerstrike.
Exercise in general is an integral part of coping and moving through a divorce,” says John Spencer Ellis, a celebrity personal trainer. Alternative exercise methods may provide additional benefits.Remember, the mind and the body are not separate. The body interprets what the mind perceives and in turn, the mind perceives the reactions of the body.
Intense, positive workouts.
Intensati, which combines martial arts, dance, yoga and positive affirmations, also focuses on combining the mind and the body. Founder Patricia Moreno focuses on pushing students beyond their comfort zone through easily followed moves and positive affirmations. By repeating the affirmations and the movements, students regain confidence and self-esteem, which are often low in periods of divorce.
Moreno encourages students to focus on the power of their thoughts and teaches students to focus on the positive. “There is always a bright side to every situation and the challenge is to find it and focus on it.There is nothing outside of us that makes us happy. It is the meaning we give to a situation that impacts how we feel and we always have a choice,” says Moreno.
Angie Correa started taking Intensati classes when she was going through a rough marriage and it was through the class that she found clarity. She says, A lot of people get lost in the drama of a relationship. One needs to ask [herself] is this how I want it to feel?” After taking classes for four months, it forced her to realize that the relationship was draining her. She eventually left her husband.
Another student Erika Shannon said the class gave her insight. Intensati helped me move on from my divorce. It makes you realize what feels good and what doesn’t feel good.”
Divorce can often feel all encompassing and draining. Often people feel out of control but through these exercise programs students are guided to working on their mind and body. It is extremely important to have a focus. Set a goal, create an inspiring vision and take action, advises Moreno. Our body is a great way to take charge and feel in control.
