“Why move," whines my cozy body, reading a delicious book under 'the wolf” (the name our family has given to our thick furry couch blanket,) a cup of ginger tea by my side. “I exercised pretty recently (I think it was this week?) and I am doing well. Rest and replenishment are healing.”
The next thing I know, it’s been an hour of deep sleep.....
This is a beautiful scenario. In fact, it is even a strongly health-coach-approved phemomenon, once in a while. The problem is when it becomes a habit or, more importantly, fills up all the bit of free space you had in which to move. Unless you are recovering from an illness, have not slept enough for a few nights, or are injured, movement is what will move you towards joy and sanity. Really. It doesn’t have to be a seventy-five minute workout at a gym. Movement can just be:
A good walk in the neighborhood with a podcast.
Half an hour of dancing to the Stones (insert whatever music gets you going.)
Jumping on your mini-trampoline for 20 minutes.
If you’re lucky enough to live near water - 20 minutes of playing in the sea (lake, river or backyard sprinkler.)
An online yoga class.
But…but….but…..
“I’m not concerned with looking like I did at twenty.”
“I have good genes and I simply don’t need to do much to feel ok”.
“I am just not feeling it.”
“I am a feeling-centered person, not a body type.”
"I am an intellectual. My brain is needed elsewhere."
“It’s been a tough week. I need to give myself a break. I’m honoring what my intuition tells me I need.”
"My kids (boss, parent, husband, wife, lover, delivery man) need me."
These are not quotes from clients (though they may have thought them.) They are just a few examples of how we justify not exercising.
About a week ago, I was feeling really down. It was about nothing and everything. You know, those unexplained (but sure, you can always find explanations) moods that slay you while walking from one room to another. A general malaise. If left to its own devices, mine could turn into sighing and sad-song-ing and barely moving more that a few feet from my computer for the whole day. So when it struck recently, I didn’t let myself think about it. I put on my shoes and took a walk. After 5 minutes I noticed myself working on sticking to the negative world view. I let it go. After walking for thirty minutes longer, I felt brand spanking new.
Moving truly does jar the monkey-mind machinery. It is like a tiny earthquake that creates new boundaries where there once were angry fences. It’s like putting defibrillator paddles to a sleeping heart. It feels like a train being moved onto a new set of tracks, headed out of the broken old fairgrounds and into a rising sun.
Moving, as we all know, strengthens the body, keeps your blood and lymph system doing what they were put there to do, and oxygenates our cells. But it also can do wonders towards keeping us sane.
May you be moved to move, often.
Love,
Madeline
