"The entire purpose of the human brain is to produce movement. Movement is the only way we have of interacting with the world." ~ Daniel M. Wolpert, Zoubin Ghahramani, J.Randall Flanagan, neuroscientists
For many of us, “exercise” can be a seriously loaded word.
At the mere mention, do you think of Jane Fonda or Olivia Newton John in shiny, thong leotards (what my boyfriend would call “anal floss”)? Or maybe you have flashes of middle school gym class with squat thrusts, sit ups with your feet wedged under the bleachers, or running (the horribly named) “suicides”? Or what about the nightmare of the excruciating Presidential Physical Fitness test and the humiliatingly short hang on the bar while the whole class watched?
Now that you’re older, what does exercise mean to you? Something that has to be super sweaty and hard in order for it to “count”? Something you are supposed to do even though you don’t love it? Something you do exclusively to change the way your body looks?
A few years ago, I stood in front of a room full of people and asked who had painful memories from gym class or sports. Every hand went up. It’s no wonder we have a complicated relationship with moving our bodies if it’s so tangled up in trauma.
For years now, it’s been my mission to free ourselves from our painful past with exercise and invite us into sensation-centered, pleasure-guided, mindful movement. We were literally born to move. It’s what our bodies are designed to do and it matters for our well-being. Functional neurologist, Jerome Lubbe writes:
"Simply put, movement is the single greatest resource in our human experience. Movement not only turns the brain on in pediatric development; it also informs, integrates, and sustains every aspect of what it means to be alive in our bodies. … Movement is paramount for our physical, mental, emotional and relational health."
Movement, at all stages of life, is essential for our thriving. The problem is when we think the only kinds of movement that matter are ones that are breathtakingly painful, are for a certain amount of time, or happen in a gym. Let’s shift that thinking around with three ideas and three questions.
Three Ideas to Shift Your Perception of Movement
Take body change off the tablE
Using movement to change the way your body looks is fraught. We are culturalized to believe that we are in complete control of how our bodies look when this is absolutely not the case. When we fall short of the culture’s beauty ideal, we tend to blame ourselves when age, health conditions, and genetics have much more to do with it.
Any amount of time counts
To paraphrase Horton Hears A Who!, movement is movement no matter how small. If you don’t have time for a 90-minute yoga class or a 3-mile walk, do some stretches on your office rug or walk to the mailbox and back. Drop something on the floor? Squat down to pick it up! Feeling foggy after hours on screens? Put on a song and move around to it for 3 minutes. IT ALL COUNTS.
Fun and pleasurable is the goal
Our culture is full of “No Pain, No Gain” and “Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body” messages. If you’ll forgive me, it’s bullsh*t. Pain is your body telling you to change what you’re doing. Instead, focus on what feels fun and pleasurable. This is not to say that challenge is off the table! Climbing a steep trail, feeling the squeeze of your muscles as you lift something heavy, working on a balance move through the uncomfortable wobbly parts can all be part of the playful fun of moving.
Three Questions To Ask Yourself
How can you re-frame what you do during the day – running errands, folding laundry, gardening – into nourishing movement for your body and brain?
What did you love to do with your body as a kid? How might you do some version of that now?
If the amount of time doesn’t matter and if changing your body isn’t the point, what would you do?
Your body is designed to move. No matter your age or ability or circumstances, your body is your instrument for life and movement is how you play that instrument. Especially if you have a complicated relationship with exercise and your body image, take some time to expand the way you approach movement.
Move in ways that feel good to you. Move to get more fun and pleasure in your days. Move to appreciate the incredible miracle of you.
Resources:
Midlife Feast, Episode #59 - Menopause, movement and body image with Dr. Maria Luque
Move your DNA with Katy Bowman #144, 11 Reasons to go on an 11 minute walk
Me! I just love to talk about this stuff! If you’d like help answering the three questions or to talk through anything around re-thinking your relationship to movement, please use the website contact form to set up a time to email or talk.