What exactly is Joyful Movement?
Joyful Movement is defined as physical activity that emphasizes pleasure. There is a mountain of information that points to physical activity offering a plethora of both physical and mental health benefits. When we do activities that bring us joy or happiness, we are more likely to do them again and again.
I did yoga this morning. This is not a huge revelation. I practice most days. This is my particular form of joyful movement. But I did not practice the previous three days. As I labored through the flow (yes, I am being dramatic), my brain was firing off a whole lot of chatter: “Why do you do this to yourself?” “You know you cannot skip 3 days!” “This is why your neck has been hurting!” “You ALWAYS do this!!” Doesn’t sound real joyful, now does it?
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Joyful Or Not
While some of this chatter was totally bogus, some was legit. I do NOT ALWAYS do this. However, not moving my body in a joyful manner and sitting at a desk for three days probably IS the reason my neck was hurting. Then I got to thinking – How many times do I need to learn this lesson? The answer is All The Times or as many times as it takes.
In my younger years, I avoided exercise at all costs. Even after I found that going to the gym was not as torturous as I had always thought it was, I would go months without intentional movement. There was even a time when I was punishing myself with exercise. That’s not to say that I didn’t do things that I found pleasure in. When he was little, I played with my son at the park. I often took a walk with a friend. I even bowled in a bowling league for a season! Reflecting on this, I can say that I have learned the lesson and I will continue to learn them.
Joyful movement can be found in so many different ways. Sometimes, I need a few days off from studio practice but I still can find joyful movement by walking the dog, playing with my grandson or doing some gentle stretches on the mat that is permanently part of my living room décor. Or I could do nothing. This morning I was reminded that even if I did nothing today, I was good enough. Hmmm…isn’t that an interesting thought?
What Are Your Thoughts Regarding Joyful Movement?
Now that I have shared my thoughts on joyful movement, I want to hear what you think. What types of joyful movement do you enjoy? Tell me on Instagram.