Today, I want to invite you to keep moving – no matter what.
We’ve always been told about the importance of ‘exercise’ to stay healthy. To be honest, I really don’t like that word. I prefer to use the word ‘movement’ because that implies that it’s a natural thing we do all day without having to think about it.
From there, we can make the leap to ‘moving with pleasure’ and doing something physical with your body that you actually enjoy – whether it is walking, dancing, running, swimming, yoga, pilates, zumba or playing sport – or just moving mindfully in your everyday movements.
Movement is also something we can use as an easy tool to get us out of our head when we feel anxious, stressed or stuck.
I have written on a post-it at my desk – ‘When in doubt, move – or clean the house.” (my best movement is dancing)
A newsletter from a long-time friend and colleague in Johannesburg popped into my inbox the other day and it felt like I had written these words. Kerry Weavind is an exceptional yoga teacher and movement specialist whose thinking and teaching I deeply respect.
I’ve shared some of her email that takes the idea of movement a little further …
Kerry says:
“If you want some relief about anything, move your body!
Thoughts, situations, experiences can’t stay stuck if we are willing to move.
When I speak of your body – I mean the physical, but also the mental, emotional and spiritual/energetic body. And moving physically – gently or powerfully, or moving breath will create shifts inside of yourself that will be helpful for navigating whatever is happening in life.
Typically when faced with strong feelings, reactions and challenges, we contract and hold our positions while we become comfortably numb to the situation or squeeze it out (in appearances only). What if you didn’t contract, and opened all the places that wanted to contract?
Our bodies – depending on who you ask – are water, or air, or crystalline water or electricity or prana. When I think of any of these, I think – movement, potential for flow, waves, or fluidity! None of these concepts feel rigid, or stuck or stagnant (and we know what happens to stagnant water).
If you want to effect change, move your attention/awareness!
Movement by itself is powerful! But if you want magic, move your awareness inside your body while you move, or while you are still, and while you live your daily life.
Training your brain to move awareness inside, while you have an outward focus is the inner dance we learn to experience through the practice of yoga or meditation. (And I’ll add here – any other form of movement or active meditation such as free-dancing, doodling, intuitive painting, and the bodywork that I offer at Aloha Flow.)
***
Thanks, Kerry for extending the idea of movement to also relate to our inner thoughts’ movement and awareness.
When I dance or roll around on the floor in my lounge, I allow my thoughts to flow freely, and if there is a difficult emotion arising, or a thought that causes me to contract anywhere inside my body, I use a physical movement to move the energy of that thought/ emotion through my body. For example, if I’m thinking about a sad situation and I feel my belly pull in slightly and emotion start to rise, I’ll move my body to activate that sadness, to move the energy. Maybe I’ll drop to the floor and curl into a ball, squeezing the sensation in my belly. Maybe I’ll wrap my arms around me tightly as I bend forward, and allow the sound of sadness to move up and through and out of my throat. Maybe water will flow from my eyes, but maybe not. Maybe I’ll allow my body to shake and jerk in awkward flailing movements (that if anybody saw me, they might label it as ‘she’s losing her mind’) – until my system feels emptied and tired and the movements change to something flowing and lyrical, or perhaps stillness in a prone position on the ground. I use my mind to track the sensation and allow my body to move in any way it needs to.
This type of movement is a practice, but anyone can do it. It’s primal and natural to us as humans, but in our modern world, we have forgotten this. The easiest guide to use is to imagine how you would move if you were a child having a tantrum, or dancing about with ecstatic delight and joy. Follow that impulsive movement.
I’d love to know if you try this out. And let me know how it goes for you if you do.
Always remember, the body never lies and movement is the best thing you can do for your health. Move anything in any way to create a greater sense of flow and expansion in your whole body – mind, spirit and physical being.
.. and always do it with gentleness and love toward yourself.
with love
Brenda
PS.
If you’re in the Seattle/Eastside area and want to book a massage with me at Aloha Flow – go here to find a time... or text me and I’ll help you.
If you’re a little bit curious about exploring creativity as a tool for healing – click here to watch this video from me – on using creativity to navigate change. (for anyone in the world)