Body Movement
It affects more that the shape of the body
Have you ever had trouble keeping up with an exercise regimen? Are you excited the first two weeks, maybe the 1st month, and then suddenly fizzles out? Have you labeled yourself: Exercise is not for me because it is a recurrent pattern?
The problem here is not quitting the regimen or workout routine. It's okay to try things, not enjoy them and move on. The problem here is allowing these experiences to impact a lifetime of health issues.
So what, maybe you are not the kind of person to hit the gym or stick to one form of exercise, BUT your body needs to move daily. Being stagnant or discarding movement should not be the option to choose.
The body thrives on movement! It's how it gets the energy and chemical composition to live a healthy and balanced life. Physical activity affects more than just the shape of your body.
Experience unsteady emotional response regularly?
Encounter trouble tapping into your sharpest cognitive behavior?
Can't communicate in a confident tone of voice?
Feelings of loneliness and judgment make relationship-building difficult?
Keep reading, maybe consequences of quitting movement in your lifestyle.
Why is Body Movement Necessary?
It is undeniable that keeping our bodies active allows the body to be fit or strong. But what's not known or visible to many is all the different aspects of health affected by including daily body movement.
On one side, it affects our Endocrine System by increasing insulin sensitivity and improving the body's ability to clear glucose properly. It nurtures Gut Health by promoting regular bowel movement & supporting metabolism. Body movement is a simple way to upkeep bone mass and reduce the risk of fracture or osteopenia. It even goes as far as impacting Sexual Health; fertility, arousal, satisfaction & stamina equally benefited. Lastly, body movement creates the pump mechanism that facilitates the lymphatic system to help remove toxins and harmful bacteria from the body.
If that's not enough physiological-based motivation to get you to ditch stagnation, moving your body daily significantly impacts your Mental Health. It increases your brain size by stimulating new connections - synaptic plasticity - and improving the health of existing neurons. As body movement favors blood circulation, it can improve blood flow to the brain, which then impacts mood balance & cognitive functions. Lastly, having a consistent movement practice supports receiving quality sleep, and that favors better anxiety & stress management.
Stagnation or avoiding exercise increases the risk of heart disease, developing Type 2 Diabetes, or cancers. Not to mention it prevents you from nurturing different aspects of your health shared above.
But what if you can't keep up a Workout Regimen? What if the work exercise overwhelms you? You are not a lost cause. You may need a different approach.
Redefine Movement in your Terms
If you believe the benefits previously shared are exclusive of intense workouts, gym memberships, or killing yourself with uncomfortable practices, let me provide another perspective.
Going to the gym or keeping up workout regimes are ways to upkeep wellbeing but is not the ONLY way. One crucial aspect for exercise to be sustainable is that you have to enjoy the experience. If you are miserable doing it, why would you think your body will support your goal? If this is your case, don't despair. You have plenty of options to find and choose a body movement that honors your preferences and allows you to work on your health goals.
Body Movement in your term!
First, think about - what gets you moving without much hesitation? Then commit to including it as much as possible in your schedule.
If you are more of a sports-playing enthusiast, join a club or create a neighborhood league. If you are more of a low-impact routine, then go for it. Build the stamina, find the rhythm and pace that works for you. Get bored easily? Then embrace it and mix it up. Do yoga one day, then a HIIT workout at home, and play your favorite sport with your friends. Dancing or walking in the park are great choices too. The objective is not to be stagnant.
Define movement in your terms, honor your preferences and needs. Don't take yourself out of the game because it does not look the same style as others.
Quick Survey:
Shifts to Try to incorporate Body Movement
Being stagnant or discarding movement should not be the option to choose. Here are a few ways to start balancing your lifestyle in favor of body movement.
If these shifts are not a fit for your style, it's fair. Your unique circumstances and preferences are relevant to create successful shifts in your lifestyle. Feel free to reach out for a breakthrough session here. It is reasonable to need a little accountability & guidance when it comes to incorporating movement into your daily routines.
From my journey to yours
Start where you are.
When starting my health journey, I struggled with exercise. It came as a shock to me, as I was a top-performing athlete all my life. But my reality was far from that image of me.
My condition barely left me any energy to desire movement. Those months with the baby made it hard to create the best context to work out. I felt frustrated that one key aspect of the solution to my health condition was a problem area for me. I also felt like a failure because working out used to be my comfort zone. I couldn't reason why it was so hard to do now.
But my issue was resolved when I started to define body movement to my reality, not my 16-year-old self. It got easy when I decided to honor my preferences and resources at hand and stop comparing myself to other's way of exercising.
I started to enjoy movement time. As a consequence, it became easy to prioritize. As time went by, I noticed how my stamina improved and how easily I could tap into any workout. A couple of months in, and my body was back in balance. Now, movement is making a positive impact on many aspects of my health.
There is no perfect way to get your body moving, but there is one sure way to harm your health. The choice is yours!
Until Next One!
Stay happy, stay healthy, Stay BALANCED,
