Exercise Explorations
Guided explorations for groovy solutions:
Here's some suggestions to start your fitness, or re-start it:
If you know why, the whole exercise goal becomes easier to do:
- It’s easier to want to spend time exercising
- Faster to results
- Faster to wanting a next-level goal
A goal leads to clear direction:
- Which exercises are suitable
- Which exercises are no longer useful
- Easier to see progress
- You’ll know the outcomes you want
Look back at your exercise history. Ten minutes or more could encourage you and boost your confidence. Did you ever:
- Bike or walk to school?
- Walk a dog regularly?
- Do gym class in elementary or high school?
- Play street hockey?
- Play tennis or frisbee at a park?
- Do stretches or yoga when something hurt?
- Follow an aerobics or yoga workout on TV?
- Follow an exercise program given to you by a physiotherapist, heart specialist or similar professional?
- Find a book of exercises at a store or library, and try a few out?
Ask yourself these questsions:
Did you do any of these more than once?
Did you enjoy the experience?
Did you feel good afterwards?
Did it seem like a waste of time?
Feel your answers
Explain your answers to yourself. Try describing the experience with positive or negative comments in your diary. Reflect on them.
- Could today be a positive experience?
- What could you lose by giving yourself time to exercise?
If this is difficult for you, try discussing with a trusted friend, relative, or even an acquaintance, classmate, or neighbour you’re comfortable sharing ideas with. Of course, a registered counsellor could be helpful too.
Imagine how exercise could enrich your life. This is a healthy habit that leads to better food, sleep, and activity choices.
Next steps
- Read all the tabs this guided exploration for more encouragement to adopt a fitness-enriched lifestyle.
- When you’re ready for choosing exercises, head to the “Basic Moves” tab next to this one. It’s mainly stretches to get you started safely.
Here are some basic moves to try (check with a doctor first) and learn about how you feel with exercises.
Definitely stop or reduce your range if you experience any problems or pain. Limit yourself to a comfortable range of motion.
For each exercise, I selected demonstrations that can easily be found on YouTube. I don’t have my own demos yet due to high insurance costs for that!
Exercise safety notice - click to expand
Exercises are shared for convenience - use cautiously!Exercises mentioned on this website, and any diagrams or videos I may add are shared for your curiosity and educational benefit only. They are provided as-is, with no guarantee of safety. Use at your own risk. I provide the names of exercises only at this time (May 2026), so that you can research them and follow other peoples’ demonstrations if you want to try them out.
I list exercises that I enjoy and that are generally-accepted as helpful and suitable for various goals. Please do talk to your doctor to find out exactly which types of motion you can do, and should not do, and how to manage your medications and health conditions during exercise.
My exercise routines have spanned many modalities and sport intentions. Some exercises I talk about are helpful to improve posture, reduce back pain, ease the mind, make daily living easier, and of course improve strength and confidence.
Follow exercises mentioned here at your own risk. Don’t overdo it, and it’s a great idea to work out with a buddy if you’re new to the moves or have health conditions.
I am a certified personal trainer but I am not able to supervise your exercise, so I can’t really recommend personalized exercises here on a website. The information I provide is a starting point to be explored with help from a qualified trainer (and check with your doctor first as well).
If you want to pursue any of the exercises mentioned on this website, seek help from a certified professional and obtain personalized methods tailored to your needs. Some viewers may have health conditions that can be difficult with exercise, such as poor balance, recent or old injury, or are taking beta blockers. If in doubt, start off with a qualified fitness trainer, kinesiologist, or physiotherapist in your area.
Your safety is most important! A penny saved doesn’t optimize your chance of fitness success.
I do provide live, one-on-one personalized fitness assistance, including help to get started, answer fitness-related questions, do assessments, help you track progress, choosing exercises and exercise apps, and do one-time or ongoing training assistance (online and offline). Currently I am not taking new clients (as of May 2026).
When I am able to serve more, I’ll add an announcement on my home page and top menu, and I’ll hopefully remember to update this page!
Low-impact Moves to Loosen Up
- Arm circles – out to the side, in front, or overhead
- Squats (bodyweight) – various forms for beginners on Youtube
- Heel raises on floor or a curb/step; can be seated
- Hip circles
- Knee circles
- Neck tilts and rotations – be gentle!
How to re-invigorate your exercise habits:
Sorry this section isn’t ready yet!
No worries, we can get your muscles back. Here's how:
This section is still in progress.
Losing weight is complicated
Here are some issues with losing weight. What are yours?
- Metabolism varies over the lifespan and under stress
- Disabilities and illnesses can encourage weight addition
- Sedentary job correlates with weight gain
- Working on your feet can cause pain, so it’s not an ideal solution sometimes
- Exercise can make you hungry
- Exercise can build muscle (adding weight) before you lose fat stores (getting smaller and lighter)
- Food choices can be difficult; some choices add joy, some are healthy but don’t give a boost of energy, and some do give obvious energy
- Everyone’s DNA is different
- Attitude affects mood, energy, and exercise/food behaviours
- The company you keep around you dictates your likely beliefs and behaviours around exercise, food, sleep, and mood
I’ll share tips specifically for weight loss goals as soon as I can gather some up.
Pain is complicated, so focus on safety first
Here are some issues with pain. What are yours?
- Exercise sure sounds good and healthy, but pain reduced recent physical activity to near zero
- Fear of falling or hurting oneself
- Fear of exercising alone due to pain, falling, or health conditions
- Too embarrassed to work out in a public gym
Here’s one reality check: you’re definitely not alone. Count the number of physiotherapy, massage therapy, and kinesiology practitioners in your area. Each likely has a backlog of clients waiting for services. You’re not alone dealing with pain, stiffness, and low exercise tolerance.
I’ll share some tips that may help (they helped me after a traffic accident) as soon as I can find them in my diary.