Exercise should move you

Moving our bodies is a required nutrient, something every person needs in order to thrive and it is something everyone should feel confident in doing.

“Use your body to change your mind. Work your heart to change your feelings.”

The photo above was taken at my birthday sunset: I call it my bday reps; I’ve each of 4 exercises for every year I’ve. Even around the sun! Why? Cos it’s only one more than last year’s achievement, it felt good last year so will probably also feel good this year, and while it’s sunset it’s also winter and windy here in Australia in August so standing still is not an option. Moving to feel warm makes good sense!

However, when I was starting out as an exercise coach, it felt like everything needed to fit into a box: my cardio session, quad exercise, a recovery session, HIIT session, mobility session.

But anything can (and should) go in a movement class because we are feeling how we move - we’re looking at HOW we move and HOW we think. We’re feeling injury, stiffness, immobility…. we’re checking under the hood for what we can do and what we need! Then we keep trying and eventually it flows: we feel our own strength, power and confidence!

This approach integrates the nervous and muscle systems. Your exercise should help you feel what you need, it should make you feel good not tired or sore. Your movement should move you!

And so it makes sense that you can move to change your mood but that also your mood should not dictate whether you move or not!

FEELING:

Restrained - work creative outlets like a cartwheel or trying to get up and down off the floor no hands

Overwhelmed - body weight and get light

Sloppy / disorganised - solve problems like climbing, play ‘Twister’ or hopscotch!

Down - spend time in the air, jump in the air even the teensiest bounds

Uninspired - go on an adventure, take a headlamp!

Unfocused - train balance, heel and toe along the gutter home today

Feeling flat - welcome your fears, climb high and look wide, skip!

Lonely - partner train, walk, class

"IT IS NOT THE STRONGEST OF THE SPECIES THAT SURVIVE

NOR THE MOST INTELLIGENT THAT SURVIVE

IT IS THE ONE THAT IS MOST ADAPTABLE TO CHANGE”

You got this!