Enjoyable exercise? How Tapping Can Lead You to Workouts You Actually Look Forward To

Written by Nick Ortner

Let’s be honest about something: working out can seem like a real drag sometimes.  For many, it feels that way all the time, but is it possible to shift that and make it so that you actually enjoy exercise?

Since I’ve been working with tapping, I’ve seen firsthand how the health and wellness industry has spread the gospel of setting and achieving fitness goals to everyone from teenagers to grandmothers, not just athletes. It’s fantastic, but it wasn’t always like this. 20 years ago, it was hard to find a hotel with a gym; now you’d be hard pressed to find a hotel without one.

Although this is true, many people still have trouble committing to a workout regimen. Perhaps it seems like homework for adults. You know, that thing you have to do but really don’t want to, regardless of how eager you are to get trim and in shape?

What can you do change this? And how can tapping help?

What’s Really Been Getting In The Way of Your Workouts

Tapping is wonderful tool in all kinds of scenarios, and you need look no further than the technical name to understand why.

Tapping is also called EFT, which stands for Emotional Freedom Technique. At its core, it’s a way to free yourself from unwanted emotions that might be hijacking your healthy response and attitude to so many situations in your life. Regardless of what you’re going through, there’s a way that tapping can help.

It’s especially true when it comes to your attitude, including how you feel about your workouts!

Perhaps you work hard all day and feel that the last thing you want to add to your hectic schedule is a workout.

And then you feel guilty about that, right?

So goes the emotional ping-pong game concerning your workout. It’s exhausting, and becomes even worse if you “self-medicate” all of this frustration with junk food.

What you could do instead is investigate these emotions, poke around in them, and maybe even discard them. Can you imagine how easy it would be to workout if you didn’t have these hangups about it?

What if it could be… easy?

How Tapping Can Eliminate Your Workout Frustration

If you don’t know how to tap, check out this how to tap video that walks you through the steps. It’s easy and quick.

Once you’ve done that, wait for a day when you’re scheduled to workout. If that day rolls around and you find yourself making excuses for not working out or flat-out refusing to exercise, you have a perfect opportunity to start tapping. Here’s a suggested tapping routine for you to try:

First, rate your hesitance and frustration about working out on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most and 1 being the least. Next, begin tapping on your ‘karate chop’ point while repeating:

• Even though I don’t want to work out right now, I completely love and accept myself
• Even though working out feels like such a hassle right now, I completely love and accept myself
• Even though the mere thought of a workout today makes me cringe, I completely love and accept myself

Then, tap through the points:

Eyebrow: I really hate working out
Side of Eye: It feels like such a waste of time
Under Eye: I really want to get in shape, but I just don’t have the time
Under Nose: Workout? Ha! It feels like a waste of time to even try
Chin Point: I’m never going to get in shape, who am I kidding?
Collar Bone: I’ll make up for it tomorrow; I have too much to do today
Under Arm: I’m tired, and exercise feels like even more work!
Top of Head: I really hate working out; I really, really do

Back to the eyebrow:

Eyebrow: Why do I hate working out so much?
Side of Eye: It’s no mystery… I’m just lazy
Under Eye: I have no discipline at all
Under Nose: What made me think I should be working out anyway?
Chin Point: I’m never going to get in shape
Collar Bone: I’m a lost cause
Under Arm: I just thoroughly dislike working out
Top of Head: I’m so lazy

Check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Repeat this round as much as you need to until the feeling significantly lessens, adding in any realizations that pop up along the way.

Once you’ve gotten the feeling down a bit, begin again at your eyebrow point.

Eyebrow: I can make my workouts fun
Side of Eye: They don’t have to be such a chore
Under Eye: That’s a joke… workouts are always boring
Under Nose: Maybe they don’t have to be such a pain
Chin Point: I’m actually pretty excited about getting in shape
Collar Bone: I give myself permission to enjoy exercising
Under Arm: I choose to look forward to my workouts
Top of Head: I’m allowing myself to get excited about being in shape
Eyebrow: If I stick to my workouts, I’ll feel so much better
Side of Eye: I just have to get over the hump!
Under Eye: I’m being so unrealistic
Under Nose: No, I’m not. This is just what I need to get back on track
Chin Point: I can enjoy my workouts
Collar Bone: I will enjoy my workouts!
Under Arm: Working out is just what I need
Top of Head: I’m committed to working out and it’s going to be exciting

If you really tap into your frustration about working out, you can uncover why it’s been so problematic for you and dissolve those blocks.

Soon, you won’t just be dedicated to working out on a regular basis; you’ll actually be having a blast as you get in shape. Get ready for a nice surprise – your body will love you for it!

What exercise do you dread the most? Do you believe you might actually be able to enjoy it? Share your experiences in the comments below!

 

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