Car Talk

Last Friday morning my husband and I got into our car and headed to Nashville for my annual heart checkup. The only problem was that every Friday morning I do a Shaped by Faith radio segment with Joe Lowe on 1490 AM.

Although I had never tried this before, I decided to call into the radio show from my car. As my husband drove, I called Joe Lowe from my cell phone and shared with his listeners the easy and effective exercises they can do in a car.

I began by talking about mindful driving, which is the opposite of being on autopilot. Remember your driver’s test? When you first started driving, all of your actions were very intentional. You thought about checking the rear-view mirror and putting your hands in the right position on the steering wheel. The following four exercises require that you give that much attention to your movements.

1. When you put on your seatbelt, scoop your belly. Pull your navel to your spine by tightening the deep abdominal muscles that wrap around your waistline. Continue to contract the abdominals and inhale deeply and exhale slowly. At first do this only when putting your seatbelt on and taking it off. Build to scooping for the whole car trip.

2. When you put the key in the ignition, rotate your wrist and flex your bicep muscles as you turn the key. Notice the muscles involved all throughout the hands, fingers and arms.

3. As you pull out of your parking space, turn your head and neck. Pay attention to your neck and shoulder tightness. As you drive, shrug your shoulders to relieve the stress. Exhale as you lift your shoulders up, holding for a few seconds. Deeply inhale and slowly lower your shoulders down, away from your ears. Continue until you notice the tension is gone.

4. Turn off the radio and use the quiet time to connect with God. Be mindful that God is in the car with you. Practice staying quiet and calm and listen for the voice of God speaking to your heart as you drive.

My radio show took about 15 minutes and the rest of the two-hour trip to Vanderbilt Heart Institute flew by. After my tests the doctor said my heart was absolutely perfect and that he could not even see where I had surgery two years ago. Thank God He has placed me back on a heart-healthy highway.
 

Blessings,
Theresa 

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Theresa is a former model and nationally certified fitness professional who teaches people to use their faith to inspire fitness and their fitness to strengthen their faith. She is the author of Shaped by Faith: 10 Secrets to Strengthening your Body & Soul, and three exercise DVDS: Pilates for the Soul, Strength Training for the Seasoned Soul and Pilates Stability Ball.

She and her husband, Robin, have seven children and live in Calhoun, Kentucky.