RECLAIMING JOY IN MOVEMENT
Hello there and happy Tuesday! I hope this week finds you moving your body in any way that brings you joy. I'm drinking English Breakfast Tea this morning and thinking about getting outside and hugging a tree.
But before you run out to hug your own local foliage, remember that my Community Chat is happening tomorrow and my Free Yin class is this Saturday. Not to mention, my eight-week Summer Fat+Happy Yoga sessions. Register now!
Yesterday, my partner and I did some adventuring around North Vancouver, complete with a visit to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the top of Grouse Mountain. Anyone else feel incredibly vulnerable riding a ski lift?! My legs dangling in the air left me feeling like I would slide out and roll down the mountain. Meanwhile, there was a man sitting cross legged and happily chatting away as his chair passed us on the way down. I was so jealous of his comfort! You do you, super chill man. You do you.
It was a wonderful time and I realized that I haven't been to the top of Grouse since 2009! It was so nice to take in the views and watch excited tourists appreciate this beautiful city we live in. Plus! We did a good amount of walking and yes, it's possible I hugged a few trees along the way. I've been having some issues with my left knee, so I was feeling cautious about walking. But in the end, I moved at my own pace and it was lovely.
It was an incredible reminder of how much I love a good walk, and also the power of moving in a way that works for our bodies in the moment. I stopped and sat a few times, I hiked and puffed in short bursts, and mostly I enjoyed being off screens and out in the fresh air.
It got me thinking of Summer and how it invites us to explore new activities. This might feel daunting when you feel like your body isn't the right fit or that it isn't where you'd like it to be. But I'm inviting you to let go of that narrative and to simply move in a way that calls to you. Maybe you pause here and do a short stretch and roll out your neck, maybe you pop on your favourite song and shimmy around the room or in your seat. You might take a walk, hug a tree and then stop at your fave coffee spot. Or maybe you're training for a race or joining a group sport. There's no wrong way to do it, and you are allowed to enjoy it!
Movement is not a punishment. It's a way to connect with and express yourself. Especially so when you're pursuing activities you enjoy, rather than what you think you should do.
So if you find yourself dreading your movement plan, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this type of movement really what I want?
- Do I enjoy it?
- Does it help me to feel good in my body, as it is now?
- Am I working with guides or instructors who are welcoming and inclusive?
- Does this movement feel empowering or deflating?
If you answered no to most of these, it's probably time for a change. Especially my friends in bigger bodies who are so often told that we should only do gruelling cardio. You are allowed to move in any way that calls to you, and there's nothing wrong with super slow and chill practices, if that's what you want and need. In fact, they can be a wonderful way to get in touch with your body and what it's telling you.
So, get out there and hug a tree or stay home and hug a yoga mat. It's entirely up to you. Take this opportunity to explore movement in your own way. I promise, it'll be the first step to a more joyful Summer in your body, exactly as it is.
As always, I'd love to hear about it! What movement would you love to try for the first time? What activities did you love when you were a kid? How do you think reframing your relationship to movement will serve you? Let me know in the comments below
As you move through this week, remember to treat yourself and your body with love, respect and kindness.
Much love,
Helen xo