God’s grace builds on nature: he gave us bodies and souls, and we can use both to bring us closer to him in cooperation with his grace. The physical disciplines may seem intimidating, so we encourage you to honestly evaluate your own state in life, your unique gifts and talents, and prayerfully consider how God might be asking you to grow this Lenten season.

As you reflect on what God may be inviting you to take up this Lent, remember that there is no single ‘right’ way to integrate physical discipline into your life. What matters is choosing an exercise that fits your circumstances and helps you offer your strength, however great or small, back to God. This is not medical advice, and anyone with medical conditions, pregnancy, or other concerns should consult professional guidance before beginning a new exercise routine.

As you consider your Lenten exercise, take a moment to consider these questions:

What is your individual physical capacity? You'll want to choose something that is challenging, but achievable, which is different for everyone.
Do you have pre-existing commitments, such as your work, family commitments and responsibilities, an exercise routine you're already doing, or any other responsibilities? You'll want to pick an exercise that can fit into your life in a reasonable way.
What do you enjoy doing? You don't have to pick an exercise you don't like! Lent is about sacrifice, but God has also given us all different personalities and strengths. It's good to pay attention to the personality he has given you, and pick a form of activity that aligns with what you're naturally drawn to!
What is sustainable? While it can be tempting to dive into an intense commitment at the beginning of Lent, these 40 days are a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you choose something you feel is possible to achieve each day.
Take it to prayer! God's guidance is always the best, and he loves hearing from you.

To help you decide, we’ve put together several approachable exercise formats you can tailor to your unique God-given circumstances.

If you need…

Short, simple options for busy seasons of life…

Pick a time each day for a short walk, or stroller walk if you’re a parent
Micro-workouts: pick a single exercise, like wall sits, stretches, or planks, and fit in one to three minutes of movement
Playtime with kids or grandkids is an often overlooked source of movement!
Habit stacking: connect a short 5 or 10 minute bodyweight moveset with another habit you do daily

Gentle or adaptive movements for maintaining strength and stability…

Commit to daily balance training or a simple stretching routine
Explore chair-based exercises, which allow for gentle strength training
Try mobility exercises, to stay active without stressful intensity

Shared or community-friendly exercise…

Partner exercises with a spouse, friend, or a brother or sister in the community you live in.
Group walks can help to maintain daily accountability.
Explore classes in your area. Gyms or running aren’t for everyone, and that’s ok! Exploring options like dance cardio, water aerobics, free run clubs, or other groups can help you discover a new form of movement you love.

Options for easily integrating movement…

Commit to a morning stretching routine, or an evening one before bed.
Find one extra movement you can add each day: taking the stairs at your workplace, add some extra steps to walking the dog, or setting a daily alarm for a quick movement break.

New ideas because you already exercise each day…

Bring God into your current routine! Keep doing what you’re doing, but add a short prayer before or bring him to the focus.
Try something new that stretches your comfort zone. This could be a group or individual sport, or an active hobby like biking.
Invite a friend or family member to join you: sometimes we can get comfortable with our own habits and routines. This could be an opportunity to allow a strength of yours to uplift someone else!

Ideas for Choosing an Exercise