When trying to lose weight, a routine is very, very important. If you aren't keeping close to your dietary and exercise goals, then you won't see much change in your health. It requires dedication and discipline.

Some people help this process along with "cheat days," where they are allowed to eat whatever they want, or skip their exercises for the day, just so their mind can relax and they can enjoy some of life's luxuries once in a while.

This is okay, but there is an even better way of renewing yourself and giving your mind a rest. When I teach my students about Tai Chi and Qi Gong, I inevitably teach them about the three forces: heaven, human, and earth. One of the highest goals of mind-body practice is to connect these three forces, the yin of the earth, the yang of heaven, and the yin-yang mix of the human force. This can be achieved through a commitment to meditation, but it can also be done in little ways by simply going out and enjoying nature.

Take a walk in the woods. Watch the clouds go by. Look up at the stars on a clear night. Reconnect with friends. Do these things so that you can be re-energized by the forces around you. When we are in a routine, or a busy job, or a new lifestyle, we often get swept up by the focus that is required, and we lose our feeling of connectedness.

But that feeling of connection, to the earth, to the heavens, and to other people, is what keeps us feeling excited and alive. So the next time you are feeling exhausted, or you are saying to yourself, what's the point? Why not reconnect with your surroundings?

Happy Stretching!