“Movement creates more movement. Movement creates energy. Movement creates life!”
– Michael D’aulerio
Today we MOVE!
Movement is literally the way to move energy and create momentum. It helps us process emotions, release toxins, and of course allows us to create a strong and healthy physical body.
Movement is literally magic, especially if you listen to your body and do it in a way that works for you. If you are already an avid movement person, participate in anything from “hot girl walks” to a weekly zumba class, chances are you already know what i’m talking about.
If you are in tune with your hormones, especially if you have female hormones, the way we move can and SHOULD vary across each part of our cycle. The way we move during our follicular, ovulatory, luteal, and menstrual phases should vary because our body processes different types of movement in different ways according to each week. There are fascinating details on this that we SHOULD be taught in school and aren’t. I have linked the book “In the Flo” below, but she also has a wonderful app and several podcasts episodes about the topic. If you have never delved into your hormone cycle, I strongly recommend you do so. She has movement, food, work, and even love/sex recommendations for each part of your cycle and suggests very small changes that have a lifelong (and noticeable!) impact.
There are many resources out there about the benefits of movement but today I want to (ever so briefly) note that it is truly the why behind how we move that matters, not what we are doing, per se. When we move like we love ourselves and our bodies, we benefit SO much more than when we move from a place of punishment or trying to be something we are not.
We are worthy of challenging ourselves when it comes to movement. Sometimes the greatest challenge is to be soft and take it slowly. Sometimes the greatest challenge is to push ourselves past what we believed we were capable of. Sometimes the greatest challenge is just showing up.
I linked a book below about trauma-informed weight lifting (Lifting Heavy Things), but the principles can be applied to any type of movement. Our bodies talk to us if we are willing to listen, and what you experience both in movement or when stagnant IS worthy of healing. Movement SHOULD feel safe, but sometimes it takes several processes to get there.
If your energy levels feel up to if, maybe consider trying something new today! If you are usually a HIIT or crossfit type, today try pilates or yoga. If you are usually a 10 minutes of stretching person, perhaps you ramp up the heat today. Listen to your body and know that as long as you are caring for yourself and listening to your body, movement is a powerful way to literally move energy and therefore move your life!
Action Item:
- MOVE.
- If you want, as you move, or before/after, visualize the energy and momentum building and moving through your body. Visualize releasing what no longer serves you and taking in fresh energy and inspiration with each breath.
A last note: We often hear “Inhale positivity! Exhale negativity!”, and that’s fine, but if you are always just exhaling negativity, what are you circulating back out to the world? If you like this visualization, perhaps try inhaling and exhaling connection, love, peace, etc. and releasing emotions that need to come up and be released THROUGH your movement, or through another modality like punching a pillow, screaming in your car or underwater, etc. Sounds crazy but…isn’t life crazy?
Resource: Lifting Heavy Things
Resource: Movement Medicine – Energy Practice – Yoga With Adriene – Adriene has all kinds of amazing and FREE practices on YouTube – I highly recommend
Resource: In the Flo Book By Alisa Vitti