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"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."-Unknown
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Every so often, when someone is referred to my website (www.lakotamoon.org) the number one question I get is "what is mindfulness movement?"
Mindful movement is all about tuning out thoughts about how you “should” be exercising, and instead just doing what feels good for you. It’s also called joyful movement or mindful exercise, but it encompasses so much more than what we typically think of as exercise.
Any kind of movement ― walking, gardening, stretching, playing in the yard, etc. ― can fall under the mindful movement umbrella. It’s not just the things you’d typically think to record as workouts on your smartwatch. That said, those traditional types of workouts can absolutely fit into your mindful fitness practice if you actually enjoy them.
If you hate doing a particular type of workout, just don’t do it, Don’t buy a spin bike because a commercial told you it is ‘the best.’ Stop going to classes you dread showing up for. The easiest way to make movement more of a regular thing is to enjoy what you do.
Another key to embracing mindfulness movement is rejecting the idea that fitness and exercise are meant to change or “improve” the way your body looks.
Mainstream culture continues to promote an ideal body that everyone is expected to work towards, It completely erases the fact that body diversity is completely natural and assumes that we all have the same ability and access.
And while buying into body ideals hurts all of us, it can have an even more extreme impact on those living in more marginalized bodies. “People who are disabled, overweight, queer are almost never included in the mainstream representation of fit bodies.
Rejecting this narrow view of “fitness” (and realizing that fitness doesn’t have a “look”) is key to mindful movement. Once you do, you can begin to think about movement as a way to honor your body as it is, instead of as a way to change it.
Just as intuitive eating and mindful eating encourage you to let go of food rules and eat what you want, mindful movement is all about finding ways to move your body that are fun and feel good to you. Forget the whole “no pain, no gain” thing. Begin to imagine that you can engage in movement that can be enjoyable, suitable to your unique body, and pain-free.
Most fitness classes pressure people to push through what they are feeling. I am asking people to connect to what they are feeling so that they know where they can go next in a safe and healthy way.
If a certain type of movement doesn’t feel good? Stop. Most of my mindfulness movement practice revolves around being in the body and being able to verbalize what feels good, where you feel strong, and what you notice, This differs from mainstream fitness because sometimes it means slowing down and being still.
The best part of mindful movement is that nothing is off-limits, whether it’s walking the dog, taking in a dance class, or hitting up a yoga class. It just depends on what you like to do, and what your body feels up to. Ultimately, mindfulness movement is a healthier and more sustainable way to move your body. The easiest way to make movement more of a regular thing is to enjoy what you do. If you enjoy it, you will be more likely to return again and again, and eventually, you may branch out from there. Remember, every day is different. You might be in the mood for something intense one day, then only feel up to more relaxed forms of movement for days after that. Both are valid, and only you can know what your body needs.
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