My daughter seems to enjoy the idea of exercise.  She tells me how she will “get muscles” right after she is done doing any specific activity that she considers “exercise”.  I love that she is already interested in this.  Some days, she leads me in different exercise activities that include stretching, arm circles, twisting at the waist, racing around the house, and even meditation (she told me that she learned this from the television and I don’t remember watching this with her)…but it is great to partake in these meditation moments.   I always try to finish it off with some deep breathing.  I don’t really initiate this whole process.  She initiates it and it is nice because it keeps me in check and It’s always a feel good moment for both of us, I believe. I am going to lay out some directions for your own “exercise” moments at home or in the park.  It takes very little time and it feels so good.  All of my information came from a book called “Massage for Total Stress Relief” written by Nitya Lacroix.    Releasing the Head and Neck ·         Focus on the hollow spot that lies at the top of your spine and below your skull.  Use this spot as a pivot point, and imagine that your head is becoming free from the neck.  Slowly drop your head forward, and then begin to roll it gently around to the left.  ·         Roll your head backward and then continue to the right.  ·         Let the head fall to the front of the body.  Repeat this circular motion five times, and then reverse it to the right.  Bring the head up in line with the spine.  Freeing the Shoulders ·         Allow your arms and hands to hang loosely from your shoulders, keeping your elbows and wrists relaxed.  Focus on your right shoulder and, as you inhale, start to lift you right arm up slowly. ·         Feel the stretching movement in your shoulder joint as you raise your right arm up high above your head. ·         Breathe out gently as you slowly lower your right arm back down behind your right shoulder. ·         Feeling the rotary movement of your shoulder joint, repeat the movement five times with the right arm and shoulder, then five times with the left.  When your shoulders feel relaxed, make five full rotations with both arms at once.  Relaxing the Pelvis ·         Focus on and isolate these movements in your pelvis, all the time breathing deeply into your abdomen.  Place your right hand over your lower abdomen, left hand on the base of your spine.  Inhale and tilt your pelvis back.  ·         Exhale while you slowly release your pelvis forward.  Repeat this gentle movement ten times to build up a steady rocking motion in your pelvic area.  ·         Place your hands over your hips and then rotate your pelvis to make five full circles, first moving to the left, then to the right.  Flexing the Knees ·         Stand with your legs apart, feet turned out at a comfortable angle, and hands on your hips.  Bend at the knees, and drop your weight down through the body.  Keep your knees in line with you feet, and make sure that your feet are placed firmly on the ground. ·         Straighten up again and then repeat the movement five times. Rotating the Ankles ·         Use a chair or wall for balance if necessary.  Bend your left knee to lift your left foot off the ground.  Rotate the ankle five times to the left, then to the right.  Repeat the rotations with the right ankle.   Feel free to go away from these directions and make up your own body awareness and loosening techniques.  It’s fun and energizing and relaxing all at once.  Find a child to do this with and it makes it all more entertaining and rewarding too.  Go and get yourself some muscles!