Bringing awareness to our movement practices.
Does Exercise Sometimes Feel Like Punishment To You?
Take a moment and think about whether or not you’re aware of your internal voice when you exercise. You know, the little voice inside your head that tells you to get up and go, or that you “shouldn't” do this, & “should” do that…
I've recently been reflecting on some of the words my clients use when they refer to the movements (or exercise) they are doing.
When I asked one of my clients what was going on in her mind while she was at the gym she couldn't tell me, but what she could say was that she was "releasing".
While movement and exercise can be a wonderful form of emotional and energetic release, if we are not aware of our internal dialogue while we are moving we run the risk of self-sabotaging.
I believe that for some people, their movement or exercise routine can be a form of punishment that they are not even consciously aware of.
There are always beliefs and thoughts (often unconscious) that are driving our actions, and impacting our results.
When we have a hard time with self-acceptance and/or self-love, we often come to our movement/exercise routine with the intention that our body is broken and needs fixing. That we are somehow "less" than we "should" be.
I love high intensity workouts myself, and recognize the importance of aerobic activity for cardiovasuclar health, so please do not mistake my words to mean that this form of movement is "bad". I don’t believe that any movement or exercise routine that makes you feel good can be bad but I believe there can be unhealthy intentions that drive our habits.
Because we can't change what we are not aware of, here are some contemplation questions to bring more awareness to your exercise WHY:
In the hours/minutes leading up to your chosen movement activity, take a moment to notice your internal voice (the words that you are saying to yourself). Saying them out loud or writing them down can be helpful to bring clarity to the words.
Repeat this again WHILE you move or exercise (you don’t have to monitor your thinking throughout, just check in a couple of times).
Later, take 5-10 minutes to write down your reflections/insights.
From conversations in the first week of my yoga circles, to the chat I had with my hairdresser on Friday, I've noticed that many of us (myself included!) are feeling the effects of lack of movement especially after this winter… the extreme cold and COVID definitely have not helped.
Luckily, spring is just around the corner, and also a great time of the year to re-introduce healthy habits!
But when you feel stuck, it can be really hard to make changes on your own.
Change requires that you build momentum, one action at a time.
I invite you to decide now, what is one action you will take this week to help you build momentum towards more integrated wellness (meaning mental, physical, emotional, and energetic health)?
I’ll even challenge you one step further and ask that you share this action with a friend or loved one! You’ll be amazed how simply telling someone your intention can build momentum towards your goal.
If you’re feeling the need for a “Spring Tuneup” or need guidance working towards more integrated wellness, I’d love to share my method with you! Book a free discovery call with me to get your momentum going!
