Observation of thousands of students in my workshops has repeatedly revealed the universal appeal and universal effect of what I call the "I did it! factor.
" It is predictable, reliable, fun to experience and fun to watch happen.
The "I DID IT!" factor affects everyone the same way-it makes them feel good all over.
I don't care if they are twelve or fifty-they grin, they squeal, they smile.
When they first experience it, they are smiling.
At the end of one of my workshops, they are still smiling.
When they see me days or weeks later, they smile! Why? Because the "I DID IT!" Factor works deeply.
It's like this.
The room is full of students with skipping ropes, some for their first try at skipping in a very long time.
All groups are represented.
They could be aged 15, or 55--the jocks, the geeks, the nerds, the teacher's pet, the student body president, the introvert, the extrovert-they are all there.
There are always some who are quite comfortable back in the corner away from the centre of attention.
They are skipping away, not saying anything, but doing well enough.
I notice them, but they don't think I can see them.
They are jumping along with me--basic, straight up jumping, listening to my commands.
"One! One two!" Three jumps, four jumps in a row.
Even when I call "Twenty Jumps--Go!" they do OK.
Maybe a little below average, but OK.
Then we try some footwork, maybe a "skier," a simple side to side jump, or a "bell," a simple front to back jump.
They're still doing OK, quietly smiling to themselves.
Then I introduce something more difficult, like a release move (let go of one or both handles for a split second and catch it again), or a "pretzyl" (it doesn't matter what that is, but it is a great challenge for a novice jumper).
Or I just ask them to do a lot, say 70 or more consecutive jumps.
I show them how to do it, then let them loose to try.
In the midst of the flurry of usually non-verbal chaos, I hear from somewhere across the room, a shrill, penetrating, "I did it!" I look to the corners of the room, and there he or she stands, eyes as big as trash-can lids, grinning ear-to-ear.
Looking up, they see me noticing them, wipe the grin off their face, turn to the wall, and can't help the grin from returning.
It happens in every workshop.
Someone accomplishes something they didn't think they could do, it happens so fast it surprises them, and they shout, "I DID IT!" It happens often when a person is jumping all alone.
They set a target for a number of consecutive jumps without a miss, or try to master a number of simple new footwork techniques.
When they get to the target, even if it is non-verbal, they have an "I did it!" experience.
The "I Did It" Factor could be defined as that inner feeling of contentment, of well-being, of excitement, when a goal is reached, or as new skills are accumulated.
It is a highlight of that feeling that comes from regular, sustained exercise.
It has to be intense enough to get your heart rate up and sustained enough to get you all sweaty.
"I Did It!" experiences are great, but their real benefit is in their lasting impact.
Study after study is now trying to identify just why physical exercise makes us feel good mentally.
There are endorphins, and other feel-good chemicals involved, but biochemistry aside, we know it makes us feel good.
And what of that? Well, additional studies are quantifying how long those feelings last.
Several hours is a typical accepted clinical result.
Consider that.
Exercise can provide a feeling of well-being and contentment that can last for several hours.
To me, that sounds like the perfect preventative stress management program.
Exercise, feel good, hang onto that feeling.
Less stress.
Simple.