After some time in the car, the wiggles set in. The itch to move get real. This is evidence that our body craves movement.
Exercise has been framed as something we “should” do but with all that “shoulding” comes the baggage of scheduling, sweating and huffing-and-puffing. Have you ever considered the fact that your body wants to move? And here’s the best news – it really doesn’t have to be as complicated as you may have made it.
What if I told you there was a way you could receive the benefits of exercise without having to exert yourself as hard as you possibly can?
Mindful movement is the act of simply moving your body with the intention of just that: to move! Calories, heart rate, and sweating are not the main objectives here. When participating in mindful movement, the main goal is to simply move your body instead of being still.
Mindful movement means you’re aware of your body, the environment, and how it all feels – both during and after.
Mindful movement can look like many different things. To some people, yoga is a mindful movement that can wake their body up in the morning, stretch their muscles after a long day at a desk, or relax them before bed. To others, a mindful walk around the neighborhood is enough mindful movement to get them feeling good. There is no guideline as to what counts as mindful movement. If you’re moving and you’re award of your movement, then ta-da – you are participating in mindful movement!
Here are a few examples:
- Dancing (alone in your bathroom or with friends, and yes TikTok dances count!)
- Stretching
- Jumping Jacks
- Yoga
- Walking
- Taking deep, intentional breaths
There are so many benefits to mindful movement. When you focus on how your body is feeling and what things make your body feel better, you are able to become more in tune with what makes you feel good. Knowing this information allows you to be intentional with how and when you choose to engage in movement in the future.
For more information on mindful movement, check out this article.