The Seasons of Movement
I recently posted on my Instagram story about how I, someone who enjoys exercise, hadn’t done a real “workout” in months. That message seemed to resonate with many people, so I want to talk about it more today.
Movement routines can come and go; just like taste preferences. Think about it have you ever been alllll about a particular food for a while, then suddenly have zero interest in it? (Side note: One winter I went crazy with French onion soup and I had to take about a 3 year break until that sounded tasty again.) When we listen to and trust our bodies, they can tell us what we need. That goes for so many aspects of life: like feeling our emotions, alerting us to when we need to use the toilet, when to rest, and of course how to nourish our bodies with food and movement.
When I reflect on the past few months, I have been busy, like stupidly busy. So, it’s no wonder that my body has been telling me “hey hey brain- gentle movement feels best right now!” Because it many areas of my life have been go-go-go and higher stress than I would like it to be. So for me, gentle yoga to start or end my day or an easy walk with the dogs, has been satisfying my bodies desire for movement AND its desire for peaceful me time.
I am not trying to toot my own intuitive-movement-horn because just a few years ago I would have bypassed that message from my body. I would have dragged myself to the gym, chugged some gym-rat-crack I mean pre-workout, and forced some exercise. I would have a temporary feel good effect- most likely because I felt “good” for working out. I would have been able to keep this up for a while until I’d crash and burn- either an injury or I would not feel like moving AT ALL. Sounds a lot like the restriction/binge cycle right?
Thankfully I recognized that my body was asking me (loudly) to make a change. That my relationship with movement was on a slippery slope; that the joy of movement was disappearing and dread was taking its place. I canceled my gym membership (gasp!). I took a long break from movement and guess what? That was the healthiest choice for me. I needed to take a break to tune back in. Slowly but surely my brain and body regained trust with one another. I now listen when I want rest and listen when I want to move. I also have a better understanding for the type of movement my body is wanting- and sometimes it is deadlifts other times it is yin style yoga. Neither are inherently good or bad because the best workout- is the one that you want to do.
Sometimes, it feels great to get into a fitness routine, maybe doing classes a couple of times a week, hitting the gym before work, or doing some midday yoga. Sometimes having that routine is soothing; it can be your YOU time or social hour. Maybe you love the endorphins, feel like a badass when your muscles get sore, and genuinely feel good during a workout. Awesome! But please remember to also check in with yourself to make sure you allow plenty of rest, nourishment, fun, and other forms of self-care. If you notice some compulsory feelings around movement, it may be time for a pause. Give the 10 principles of Intuitive Movement a read to help you assess your relationship with moving your body.
On the flip side, it’s important to understand it is completely normal and A-okay to have your fitness routine dwindle away. I know societal norms might have you thinking you are lazy, unhealthy, or a failure. I want to assure you that you are okay. Fitness routines come and go, just like other routines in our lives. Sometimes, these breaks are necessary for our well-being, cultivating a healthier relationship with movement, giving some needed rest to exhausted body parts, or having the energy to deal with other things going on in our lives.
You don’t have to force it. You are not obligated to have a fitness routine. Workouts are not the end-all-be-all to health and well-being. When we force a behavior in the name of health, it tends to backfire hard. We lose any and all joy in the behavior, it feels like an obligation, or a punishment, which in human nature we tend to rebel against. So eventually, we finally break our routine and usually swing to the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe wanting to avoid exercise altogether. This is why we don’t want to force a salad when we want a hamburger and why we don’t go for a run when we really could use a nap.
Movement routines come and go, but your innate value as a human being remains the same. Beating yourself up for not moving is not helpful and counterproductive. Getting curious with yourself and honoring your needs is nuanced! So please don’t be hard on yourself as you are still figuring this out. If you have been out of the movement routine for a while and feeling curious to give it a go, I recommend reflecting on what sounds fun and doable. Prioritize joy and remember, your worth has nothing to do with your movement routine.
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