Have you ever considered healing through movement?
Healing through movement may be a new concept for you. In a world filled with images and ideas, finding yourself struggling with comparison may be an everyday occurrence. In addition, your self-talk may sabotage movement routines because of pre-programmed definitions or beliefs from childhood through adulthood.
I can relate. It’s taken years to embrace a Me vs. Me mentality and pull in the reigns around my beliefs about movement. Recently, I’ve discovered how my beliefs contribute to healing through movement.
This post is all about 7 Beliefs to Embrace About Healing Through Movement.
Embrace These Beliefs
1. Movement brings more health, strength, and flexibility.
Imagine this: every cell in your body is vibrating with abundant health, strength, and flexibility. As you begin your workout, every molecule is bouncing and your blood begins to flow more easily. Furthermore, your muscles are engaged – core, glutes, hamstrings, and biceps. Your shoulder blades are kissing and your posture is perfect. Every joint moves effortlessly and your muscles lengthen with each movement.
Read that again, close your eyes, and see yourself in the exercise you perform most regularly. How do you feel? Can you feel the dancing molecules? Do you see bouncing circles bumping against your skin? Did it bring a smile to your face? Consequently, maybe you sat up taller or began to feel your hamstrings stretch like a rubber band?
While focusing on every cell vibrating with health, strength, and flexibility, the body responds with positive actions toward movement. Therefore, movement creates more health, strength, and flexibility.
2. Movement increases energy.
The alarm blares annoyingly! The last thing your body wants to do is climb out of bed. However, abundant research proves one foot in front of the other increases energy. As heavenly as warm coffee sounds, throw your workout gear on first and enjoy the coffee later!
When your body is in motion with movement, your heart rate increases and blood starts pumping more quickly. As a result, endorphins are released and contribute to feeling good. We’ve all heard of the “runner’s high.” So, when you feel depleted, lace-up, get outside, listen to nature or your favorite playlist, and get your heart pumping.
3. Movement can be whatever you define as movement.
One of life’s greatest challenges is the thoughts held captive in your mind. However, your mind can also be your greatest strength for movement. When you were a child, how did others define “fitness” for you? Was gym class, with one-minute drills, considered your definition of movement? Or maybe you were a young athlete and competitive sports created positive and negative emotions around exercise?
I vividly recall attempting track, during my middle school years, and defining running as hard and unenjoyable. I remember watching my friends run effortlessly. However, their ease in running did not empower me to continue with track workouts. Later in life, when I embraced movement as a form of self-care and a means to remain healthy, I began my running journey again, with my definition.
You might “rethink” how you define movement after reading What No One Told You About the Importance of Mindset and Your Health.
Movement can be walking, running, rollerblading, yoga, or biking. There are endless activities that involve moving your body. Similarly, the ways your friend defines movement may differ from your viewpoint. Grab ahold of the movement that makes you feel on top of the world and your life will be filled with more healing and joy!
4. Movement is fun.
If it is painful, brings feelings of dread, or is the last thing on your mind, it is time for a movement switch! When movement is fun, your health benefits crossover into all areas of life.
Here are a few ideas to bring fun back to your exercise life:
- Try a completely new activity! If running is your go-to movement, try kickboxing for a week!
- Pump up the jams! Your playlist must be filled with songs that make you smile, sing, and dance while you work out!
- Take your same ole routine and spice it up! Kick in some speed and sass during your walk by powering up from one fire hydrant to the next, taking a stroll to the next hydrant, and then repeating fast and slow.
- Set the intention before you head out the door to have fun and create fun! Take selfies along the way, of things that bring you joy or make you smile. Most importantly, share your story to inspire and empower others to have more fun while they move!
- And don’t forget to stop and smell the sunflowers!
No matter the season, hop on over to Supercharge Your Summer Fitness to add more fun to your movement routine.
5. Movement is self-love.
Many women provide love selflessly to everyone around them and lack a true understanding of self-love. In his life-changing book, Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It, Kamal Ravikant asks himself this simple question. “If I truly and deeply loved myself, what would I do?” Better yet, how would I treat myself? And my answer, every time, is to move.
Moving your body to connect with yourself, nature, and your Higher Power creates love within. Consequently, your love within overflows to everyone around you.
6. Movement creates mental space and more creativity.
My best thoughts occur while my feet are pounding the pavement. Come along while I share my “routine” on how movement creates an open mind and promotes creativity. I’ve discovered movement unlocks new ideas and breakthroughs every time.
- Once I hit the start button on my watch, I focus my thoughts on gratitude. Instead of focusing on the warm-up kinks and hard breathing, I channel my energy toward gratitude for a moving body, abundant fresh air, vivid colors of green, blue, white, yellow, and red, and sounds of birds, crickets, and the pitter-patter of my feet.
- Now that my body is warm and moving more fluidly, I talk out loud! Yep, I have a full-on conversation with myself! Because I believe my thoughts are creating my life, I talk to myself about all of the good I desire. It might sound something like this: “I’m so happy and grateful now that I have impacted millions of active women to think differently, recover faster, and chase their wildest adventures. Today, I have an amazing, impactful conversation with a new friend. Magic is everywhere and I am collecting it in my basket!”
- And no joke – the more I talk to myself, the better I feel, AND more ideas start flowing to me about how I might impact, or who I might talk with, and I begin looking for magic.
In other words, movement has opened my mind to bigger, positive thoughts and abundant creativity. It can do the same for you.
7. Movement promotes change.
As a result of moving your body, change unfolds naturally. Maybe a few pounds disappear during your sweat sessions or you notice the speed work sessions have created more muscle definition. Nevertheless, movement promotes change.
Some of the changes are hidden from the natural eye. Molecules and cells are changing energy. Blood vessels are opening and pumping life through every part of your body. Hearts are healed from trauma. And sadness turns to joy.
Movement provides physical and emotional changes that heal lives.
“Change happens through movement and movement heals.” Joseph Pilates
When I began my movement journey, it was slow. I scheduled two or three activities throughout the week. As my beliefs around movement shifted, from the place of “have to and hard” to “this is a blessing and fun,” my life took on new meaning. Movement brought more health, strength, flexibility, and energy. Similarly, it showed me how to have fun and create adventure. As I’ve learned to love myself more, movement is the first act of self-love every day to clear my mental space and open the flood gates of creativity.
So, no matter how you choose to define movement, get moving! Movement allows you to change in ways you never imagined. Healing through movement may be just what your heart is ordering!
What beliefs about movement can I help you challenge?
This post was all about 7 Beliefs to Embrace About Healing Through Movement.
Other posts you might like:
Supercharge Your Summer Fitness
What No One Told You About the Importance of Mindset and Your Health.