Forget perfect workouts. Move because you’re alive, because you can, and because feeling strong beats chasing a number on the scale.
I should do a post about rest & sleep, because those things are pretty important for your body (and thus also for your mind, heart, & soul), but… I really don’t have anything to say on the topic, to be honest. I don’t sleep great, in large part because of my back problems (also in large part because of the five year old who crawls into bed next to me every night & proceeds to kick my ass for six hours). I figured I should mention it, though, as something to bear in mind.
Moving on, this post is about movement – whatever that looks like for each of us on any given day.
I’ll share the types of movement I enjoy, but I’d love to hear what you enjoy in the comments!!
Everybody’s Got Limits
Because of the possibility of carrying an ALS-associated gene, I like to move because I’m grateful that I can—I don’t want to take that simple fact for granted.
However, I realize everyone deals with mobility issues to some degree. Myself included. So, movement looks different for everyone.
For some, it’s an intense 60 minute workout. For others, it’s 5 minutes of Tai chi.
Time is obviously another issue – how much time can you find for intentional movement?
We all have limitations. We all have to figure out how to work within those limitations without pushing too far (& thus kicking our own asses).
Exercise Without the Punishment
As I mentioned in my last post of this series, I started on a mild weight loss journey a bit over a year ago.
Part of that involved movement, of course. So, I worked my way up to a daily routine including : 20 minutes of cardio, 15 minutes of arm strength or belly dancing, and 5 minutes each of yoga & Tai chi.
As I also mentioned in my last post, I got pretty jaded from it all.
Now, I do a bit less (in part because of the stress on my back from physical therapy), but I’m still at it.
No longer for the sake of weight loss.
For the sake of vitality, strength, & confidence.
Cardio: Get Your Blood Moving
I’ve been doing 10 minute videos, most mornings. It’s good to get your blood flowing 😉
A few of my favorite YouTube channels :
Strength: Stop Being Spaghetti
10 minutes here, too (because my upper body strength was basically comparable to spaghetti) :
Belly Dancing: Because Why the Hell Not?
Choose Your Own Adventure
What do you enjoy doing? Roller skating, skateboarding, jogging, martial arts, lifting weights, gardening & yardwork…the possibilities are endless!
Any sort of intentional movement can be a good goal – whatever is enough to help you get out of your mind, & in to your body.
Yoga: Meditation in Motion
I’m a fan. A big fan.
I’ve been practicing yoga for about 25 years now.
Obviously, my back won’t let me advance to the contortionist pretzel poses, but that’s beside the point – I still thoroughly enjoy what I can do.
As a challenge to the gentlemen in the audience – yoga isn’t just for the ladies! My physical therapist practices, my exes used to practice with me occasionally… It’s just very intentional stretching!
I learned in the yoga class I took in college to think of it as releasing “stagnant” energy in the body, allowing it to flow.
And in the process, it also nourishes your balance, flexibility, and strength. Physically, and thus also mentally.
I’ve found that the breathwork involved can certainly prepare the mind & body for meditation too; it can actually be a form of meditation in motion.
Yoga teaches patience & restraint – you shouldn’t push yourself too hard, or you’ll get hurt. (If it hurts, you’re doing it fucking wrong.)
Unbelievably Effective Yoga For Uncertain Times (she has a lot of yoga videos, but this one is the least stressful that I’ve found lol)
I’ve recently discovered tantric yoga, which I’ve found pretty enjoyable too. Especially this one (even though the audio is a bit questionable, it’s a nice place to start) : Yoga for Sensuality and Inner Connection. To me, tantric yoga is the chaos magick of yoga, where you’ve been doing it for long enough to know what you enjoy & can make it very much your own practice.
Tai Chi & Qi Gong: Movement for Busy Brains
“Old friend” introduced me to Tai Chi a million years ago, but I didn’t start seriously looking into it until relatively recently.
Come to find out, I’d been doing my own version of this sort of thing for longer than I can remember!
Qi Gong has roots in ancient Chinese traditions of movement, breathwork, meditation, and cultivation of life energy, with practices evolving over thousands of years.
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that incorporates many of the same principles and practices.
I enjoy both.
Like yoga, both Qi Gong and Tai Chi practices are very much meditation in motion – utilizing breathwork during movements, and focusing on the movement of energy throughout the body.
They can encourage range of motion, physical awareness, balance, and gentle full-body movement.
And they’re great for busy brains because of the constant movement.
Qigong Meditation – Lots of good videos, taught by a monk ☺
Taiflow has a lot of great videos too, but this one’s my favorite.
And Phoenix Mountain Tai Chi has a few good videos, but this one is definitely my favorite.
When You Just Can’t Even: Minimum Viable Movement
So, what can you do when you “just can’t even”?
I’ve been there. Quite a bit lately, actually.
For me, my minimum options are 5-10 minutes of yoga & Tai Chi. And I’m currently working on reintroducing my regular, more strenuous workouts back into my day. Gently.
Get Out of Your Head & Into Your Body.
Maybe the goal isn’t to become fitter, thinner, stronger, more flexible, or more disciplined.
Maybe sometimes the goal is simply to feel alive in your body.
Move because you can.
Move because it feels good.
Move because your brain won’t shut the fuck up and your body deserves some attention.
Move because you’re grateful to still be here.
And when you really, truly, just can’t even?
Five minutes counts.
Minimum viable movement is still movement.
So what does movement look like for you? What makes you feel strong, grounded, playful, or simply more in your body? Tell me in the comments – I’d genuinely love to hear it.
If this resonated with you, give it a like, share it with someone who needs permission to stop treating exercise like punishment, and subscribe if you’re new.
Stay real. Live vibrantly. And rock the fuck on. 💚🤘🏻
