HEALTHY LIVING: Movement

Movement:

Defined as the act, process, or result of moving; usually actions or activities.

Movement is so important! Our health depends on moving our bodies. Movement brings so much more than just physical attributes of strength and endurance, it also plays a role in our thought processes, understanding, emotions, decision-making, which affect all aspects of our life!

However, we have stopped moving. Really moving that is. Most often it is extremes of inactivity paired with bouts of intense exercise. Being sedentary a majority of the day has become “normal”. Everything is easily accessible: you getting from A to B with transport, things delivered straight to you, meetings over technology, jobs where you simply sit clicking a mouse and tapping a keyboard. Then you go to complete a workout you feel you must do in order to stay health, fit, strong and to achieve an external goal. Or even if it something you love, you only have a certain amount of leisure time in which to do it.

So really, there is exercise and there is movement. “Exercise is Optional, Movement is Essential.” The difference?

Exercise is modern, an invention to make is seem ok to not move in the way we should. If we workout a few times a week at the gym for an hour or two, push through some HIIT cardio or use the resistance machines for some isolated strength exercises, all should be good right? Wrong. This type of exercise is often pain and obligation driven, rather than for pleasure. It does not focus on natural, practical, functional movement and skill development. It reinforces a disconnect between mind and body.

Movement is different. It is ancient. It is what the human body is designed for. Walking, running, jumping, crawling, climbing, lifting, swimming, dancing around a fire, hunting and gathering, playing!

Most research shows the importance of more movement in our lives, as opposed to exercise, to stay healthy. If you sit and are sedentary all day it cannot be undone with any amount of exercise. On the other hand, if you move as part of your everyday life, you can be completely healthy without any actual “exercise”.

The good thing is there seems to be a shift in fitness paradigms occurring. From a focus on aesthetics and pure strength or endurance, to more functional training, and soon to simply training movement! This means moving in a way that feels good and natural, where you feel present and mindful of what you are doing, where you enjoy what you are doing. Movement just for the sake of movement. That is the aim. That is what will keep you healthy and happy.

“The body will become better at whatever you do, or don’t do. You don’t move? The body will make you better at not moving. If you move, your body will allow more movement.” – Ido Portal

How would you rate yourself on Movement? [1=not great, 5=amazing]

• How active is your lifestyle? Do you move a lot during the whole day or are you mainly sedentary?

• Does your movement feel healthy and good? Whether just walking or full on exercising does it feel right or do you have aches and pains?

• Do you have a comprehensive movement approach? Do you include mobilising joints, warm up and cool down, cardio, strength, flexibility, balance, regeneration?

• Do you enjoy moving? Do you move for pleasure or is it as a chore?

• Are your mind and body connected? Do you think about your body and how it feels?

What can you do to improve?

• Find out about movement and what it means to you.

• Look for professional help (personal trainer, coach, etc.) from someone who understands the importance of movement not just exercise.

• Train movement. Train at a “just right” threshold (enough to challenge but also to sustain). Train variety. Let your body regenerate.

• Find movement you enjoy and make it a passion.

• Make movement a priority. Schedule time for movement (not only for exercise and ‘workouts’, also the movement you love).

• Be a movement opportunist and move whenever you have the chance!

• Don’t sit so much. Especially in chairs or on the sofa. Try on the floor instead. Or just stand.

• Play! And move in nature as much as possible.

Now what are you going to go and do? MOVE :)!