Find Your Inner Olympian, And Let The Games Begin by Marilynn Preston on Creators.com

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Find Your Inner Olympian, And Let The Games Begin

I've never been an Olympic athlete. The closest I came was the summer I got a Dorothy Hamill haircut. That's over, but I still love to watch the Summer Olympics, and I'll bet you do, too.

What an amazing display of human energy! The strength and sassiness of the gymnasts, the explosive power of the runners and jumpers, the flexible-as-a-fish spines of the swimmers … and hey, let's not forget those beach volleyball outfits. Aren't you just a little embarrassed to have your 8-year-olds in the room?

Bring 'em in! Especially your girls, who benefit from connecting to the Shawn Johnsons and Misty Mays, role model athletes who help them overcome their fears, work hard and be the best they can be. You just never know what might inspire your own daughter to Olympic greatness. You can only hope it's not boxing.

This year, I watch my beloved Beijing Summer Games under protest, not sporting a black facemask, but coughing up criticism of the disturbing way the Chinese leaders deal with personal freedom, protest and pollution.

Their opening ceremony was magical and magnificent, extolling the "one world, one dream" virtues of harmony, balance and the inner peace that leads to external peace (sounds like one of my old columns).

But the two-sidedness of the Chinese rulers leads me to tremendous confusionism. How can a country be so wise and evolved when it comes to understanding the human body and what it needs to repair and heal — Chinese traditional medicine — and so narrow and twisted when it comes to tyranny and Tibet?

But still, I watch, and so should you. Why? Because time spent in the company of superior athletes — following the action, hearing the stories — teaches you what it takes to be a champion in whatever field you play on: in sports, at home, at work. You have an Inner Olympian to awaken. There are lessons to be learned:

Resiliency Is Everything. Sports will always knock you down. Every time you watch a 2008 Olympian win a medal, you are in the presence of hard-working, disciplined athletes who have failed and lost. That's a good time to remember that in your own struggle to come out on top — whether it be in a tennis tournament or a conference call — you are going to encounter obstacles, setbacks and bad guys.

That's when your Inner Olympian must kick in and bounce you back for another day of honest effort and optimism. If you never give up, you never lose.

It's So Mental! Olympic champions have mastered the mental side of sports. Study their inward gaze. Swim-god Michael Phelps, weight lifter Cheryl Haworth, they've all learned to relax, focus and visualize their way to victory. No matter your sport or level of skill, you, too, will make huge improvements when you bring your mind into play. When the Summer Games are over, march your Inner Olympian to the nearest yoga class (or tai chi, qigong, aikido). Learn to connect mind and body with your breath, and you'll be a faster runner, a less stressed soccer mom.

No Train, No Gain. Olympic athletes are training fanatics. They are superheroes of discipline and determination. We mortals love them, but we can't be like them. The Latvian beach volleyball players spent eight hours a day perfecting their blocks. Most of us struggle to find 45 minutes a day to take a walk. And yet, the principles of training apply to all athletes: Do more, get better. Let the 2008 Summer Olympics inspire you to crank up your own training regimen. Set goals, and commit to a plan to reach them. Get some coaching. Eat smart. Start a fitness journal. Start where you are and train as though your life depended on it. It does.

There's a Sport for Everyone. Ping-pong. Archery. Water polo. Your Inner Olympian will prosper when you find a sport you really love instead of the one your parents pushed you into or you reluctantly played in school. Fencing. Kayaking. Racewalking. Let the Games open your tired TV-watching eyes to a new, fun fitness activities. No matter your present weight or past experience as class klutz, there's a sport for you out there. Go find it and rejoice.

ENERGY EXPRESS-O! LIGHT YOUR OWN TORCH

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." — Confucius

Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com. To find out more about Preston and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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