Dolly Parton Hated Working Out. But She Loved 'Rejoicing Exercises'
Her workout had gospel music, diddly-squats, and absolutely no gym rules.
Dolly Parton, a country music legend, had a unique approach to exercise. She disliked traditional workouts and instead, came up with "rejoicing exercises." These included singing, stretching, shouting, and praising to gospel music – essentially, a combination of her faith, music, and self-expression. Parton called these exercises, "joiercing," rather than "working out."
Michelle Segar, a lifestyle-change scientist, explains that Parton's approach was revolutionary. She disregarded the conventional norms of what exercise should look like and instead, created a routine that reflected her personal needs and preferences. Segar emphasizes that movement doesn't have to feel like punishment to be beneficial.
This method is particularly valuable as people age, according to Dr. George Hennawi, a physician at MedStar Health. He believes that successful aging involves continuing to do what one loves – whether it's traveling, gardening, singing, or spending time with family. Parton's philosophy on this matter was to "bring exercise to the stuff that I love to do."
When setting exercise goals, Segar advises focusing on how you want to feel during the activity rather than abstract, future-oriented objectives like weight loss or disease prevention. Joyful movement can take many forms, from dancing alone, walking up stairs, or chasing children in the backyard. The key is to choose an activity that aligns with what makes you feel good, especially since the desired feeling can vary from person to person.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
