I took off a week from movement and this is what happened…
Movement is a big portion of my life. I practice yoga, weight-lift, hike, rock climb, walk barefoot in the park with Finley (my golden retriever), and if our destination is within walking distance I will always choose walking over traveling in the car. If it’s active and outside— I’ll be there (as long as it’s not competitive sports)! So you’re probably thinking, “well why did she stop?” Well, it was unintentional. Life was overwhelming, I was feeling low and in my head. The more I reflect on that week, the more I realized HOW MUCH I would’ve benefited from going on a short walk, stretching for five minutes, or dancing in the kitchen. My body ached from the lack of movement and my mind was affected too.
Over the past few months, I’ve been reflecting on my movement journey. Why I move my body, what movement feels best, and what activities don’t feel good for my soul. I’ve found that I’ve had to make movement much more approachable and this is my two pennies for you!
When I have been rigorous with my “workout routine,” I’ve fallen short every time. I get bored with the same workouts or my body doesn’t feel up for that type of workout on that day. Our sleep cycle, menstrual cycle, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and home + job responsibilities, all play a part in how our body feels TODAY. How can we move our body the same way we did yesterday if our body feels significantly different today? Instead of following a rigorous routine, I’ve learned to listen to my body. Here are some tips on how I’ve done it and a rough schedule I follow. You can take and leave what feels aligned for you.
Monday- High/Low Impact
Tuesday- High Impact
Wednesday- Outside movement
Thursday- High Impact
Friday- Low Impact
Saturday- Outside movement
Sunday- Just rest :)
As I said, this is a ROUGH schedule. Some Tuesdays I can barely move if I’ve done a high-impact workout, so I’ll rest or go for a walk. The point is to move your body, in whatever way feels aligned for you that day, or listen to your body if you need to rest. To become attuned to what your body needs are a great gift to give yourself.
Insight questions to ask yourself to become more attuned to your body:
Take a moment to sit in a comfortable position, gently close the eyes and inquire.
How does my body FEEL today? Where do I feel most relaxed? Where do I feel tense? What is my breath telling me? Is it shallow or heavy? Am I breathing through my chest or my belly?
Get curious and you’ll soon be able to pay attention to the subtleties of what your body is telling you and what you need.
