Mindful Movement
The other day I “felt” like going for a run, and after not running for a few months, I ran a 5K without even thinking about it. To be honest, if it weren’t for my hips and calves cramping up, I probably could have gone more. I don’t run long distances often, so for me this was quite a first run back, and it might be my last run for a while, who knows.
Where did this energy come from? Where did this “motivation” come from? How do I do that? Incorporate mindful movement into your life.
Bare with me here as I get to my point.
I’ve been doing for yoga for years now, but for the last few months, I’ve been practicing yoga every single day, sometimes twice a day to be honest. It’s been a stressful few months amidst this Covid disaster and I felt disconnected from myself. At home all the time, not being able to leave, I needed to close my eyes and get away. My body and my mind told me that it wanted to feel a certain way and therefore I found a movement/exercise that would help me feel that way. At the end of my practice I felt balanced, fluid, sexy, relaxed and like I escaped for a little. I felt in tune with my body and at home within myself. These are the feelings my body and mind wanted to feel, and yoga was the movement that gave me that, which is why I was able to stay so consistent. It felt so good. There were positive feelings associated with my exercise, always.
Almost there.
Being so heavily in the fitness world, it makes me sad to see that more and more people aren using exercise as a way to “change” themselves because they’re not happy with the way they look or as a way to “punish” themselves after a “splurge” weekend or a “bad” meal. The main reason people come to me as a trainer? To lose weight. I’ve been there, and exercising with that mentality was NOT fun and was NOT consistent. How could I be? I didn’t actually like what I was doing it. I was expecting fast results. Fitness should add to your life, not take away from it.
So, why does the yo-yo fitness routine happen? Well, when did you ever enjoy doing something that had negative connotations tied to it? Never. You get into a fitness kick, burn yourself out or get bored and then get frustrated because you can’t stay consistent enough to see and feel the benefits of exercise. Your intentions weren’t right. You weren’t listening to yourself. You weren’t working WITH yourself, you were working AGAINST yourself. It’s not your fault though. You’re not a failure. The fitness and diet industry have programmed you to think that way.
So, here’s the point.
There’s a difference between mindless and mindful movement.
Mindless is doing what everyone else is doing because you think it’ll make you look like them. It’s using exercise to punish yourself. It’s using exercise to fix or change yourself because you think the way you look is wrong, you’re not enough.
Mindful is exercising in a way that feels good to you and gives you what you need in that moment. It’s working WITH your body, not AGAINST it. It’s exercising because you love yourself and you deserve to be in good health. It’s finding things you love to do that are good for you - physically and mentally.
Your homework.
Write down how you want to FEEL after your next workout.
Strong? Empowered? Sexy? Free? Relaxed? Desired? Independent? Whatever it is.
Then, think about a form of movement that would make you feel that way - Running, Dancing, Yoga, Weight Lifting, HIIT, Tennis, Cycling…
Then do your workout with that word in mind. Make it your mantra. Your goal.
Chase a feeling, not a size.
ABOUT:
Hi, I’m Azul Corajoria, an Integrative Health Coach, Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor. I support my clients in making step-by-step changes so that they can live a healthy and balanced life. By recognizing the interdependent roles of mindset, nutrition, and movement I educate and hold my clients accountable for achieving their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments with an emphasis on self-care. Together, we navigate the contradictory world of nutrition through intuitive eating, practice mindful movement, and implement small mindset and lifestyle shifts that empower them to be their best selves in the easiest way possible.
