By Ginger Harrrington, Author, Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life
Good friends are an often-overlooked part of good health. A gift from God, friendship is a vital part of a healthy and whole life. Finding time for fitness and friendship often seems like an either/or choice because we have limited time and busy schedules. What to do—catch up with a friend after work or stay on track with my fitness plan?
LISTEN TO THIS AUDIO PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH GINGER:
NOTE: There are about 9 seconds of blank audio at the beginning of this recording.
I teach aqua-fitness at a local recreation center. My clients create a friendly community in our group exercise classes. These women value friendship and fitness. They meet once a month for lunch, celebrate birthdays, and commiserate over health issues. Though these women come from a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds, combining fitness with friendship builds bridges of connection and good health. Their camaraderie makes class fun and engaging.
FIND YOUR FITNESS STYLE
Not everyone enjoys group exercise classes, opting for other ways to pursue good health by partnering fitness and friendship. Kris and Jody meet regularly to cycle and explore local communities. I often see a brigade of strollers as moms visit while taking toddlers to the park. These moms have discovered the secret of banding together, making fitness and friendship fun for everyone.
Fitness and friendship can be a great combination for the workplace as well. Walking during lunch, Cadence and Ayanna trade heels for sneakers, carving out time to chat as they enjoy a break from the office. Several days a week, these two friends exercise in a way that works for their schedules.
Side by side and heart to heart, authentic friends add joy and fun to our lives. Relational beings, women need to connect with trusted friends. Whether you love the latest funky Zumba fashions or feel more comfortable in a faded old t-shirt and shorts, the Bible show us that there’s more to relationships than what you’re wearing:
Godly character is always the right attire for every relationship. To put on means to consider it so, to clothe yourself with the beautiful components of strong relationships. Good for the body and for the soul, physical health and relational wellness is a powerful mix.
Make the simple choice to put on God’s qualities as you get dressed each day. Let the practical action of putting on your clothes remind you to prayerfully put on the attributes of God’s Spirit. Just as you don’t go for a run without your shoes or a climb without your safety harness, don’t leave home without gearing up with compassion, kindness, and patience.
7 WAYS TO PAIR FRIENDSHIP AND FITNESS FOR GOOD HEALTH
Consider these seven ways to nurture body and soul by combining friendship with exercise.
- Invite a friend to work out with you. Don’t wait for others to reach out and take the first step. Make the first move by inviting someone to join you for a walk or check out a new class together.
- Make a plan. Be intentional with exercise goals as well as building strong friendships. Plan ahead, write down goals, and follow through. A Christ-Influenced Trainer (CIT) or a life coach can help you do this.
- Be the friend you want to have. Rather than searching for the right friend, focus on being a good friend. Trust God to help you connect with others by being gracious, patient, and kind. You may find that God opens doors for you to develop friendships with those who are older or younger than you giving you the bonus benefits of intergenerational fitness.
- Cheer others on. Working out with a friend is a great way to spur one another to strive to meet goals and reach new levels of good health. Everyone can benefit from accountability and affirmation. They are the outcomes when we invite others to #talk2me4alift.
- Don’t compare. For women, it’s easy to get caught in the comparison trap, worrying we are too fat, too slow, or too unskilled to work out with a friend. Choose to encourage rather than compete so that you can meet fitness goals together.
- Keep confidences. When a friend asks you not to repeat information, honor her request. Refuse to gossip and find a graceful way to squelch rumors when you hear them.
- Be real. Share needs and struggles. Open the door to an authentic relationship by being honest. Friends who work out together are more likely to let go of the desire to impress. After all, it’s hard to put on a false front when your hair’s a mess and sweat is running down your face.
Trust God with your friendships and your fitness as you pursue health goals and your. Think of someone you can invite to join you in your fitness journey. Consider what you can accomplish when you team up with a friend. Reach out to somebody today—maybe it’s an acquaintance you’ve wanted to get to know, a neighbor down the street, or a co-worker in your office. Be friendly and dare to start the conversation. Do the work of being a gracious friend, investing in relationships that matter, but entrust the results to God. When you get a good workout in at the same time, that’s a win-win!
Ginger adapted concepts for this Faith & Fitness Magazine article from her book Holy in the Moment: SimpleWays to Love God and Enjoy Your Life. Get it for your individual training and development. It also works well for small group study at your church or as a faith-centered resource for a group exercise class or small group training.
Share your pictures of you pairing friendship and fitness. Be sure to include the hashtag #talk2me4alift
