While movement is a way for us to stay physically fit (which we all know is good for us), it’s so much more than that. It provides opportunities to connect with ourselves, others and the environment around us – allowing us to observe, learn and tap into our emotions. Movement is an experience that we can immerse ourselves in, and take things away from.
In this blog we explore what movement offers, beyond the physical.
A moment to be mindful
While mindfulness can mean different things to different people, at its core it’s a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
It’s a therapeutic technique that connects your mind and body – an integration that’s vital for achieving whole person health.
Mindfulness can:
- reduce stress and anxiety
- increase satisfaction and happiness
- allow us to have a deeper understanding of who we are
- help us build stronger relationships
Movement is an excellent opportunity to slow down, focus on the now and practice mindfulness.
A chance to be self-aware
Movement is a great vehicle for self-awareness (aka to look inwards and focus on our traits, behaviours, and feelings). This is because it requires our full attention and presence from moment to moment, allowing us to check in with how we feel physically, emotionally and mentally, and reflecting on those emotions.
Self-awareness is so important because when we have a better understanding of ourselves, we are able to experience ourselves as unique individuals, which in turn empowers us to make changes, building on areas of strength and working on areas of weakness.
Being self-aware helps us:
- better manage our emotions (responding to them rather than reacting to them)
- enhance our critical thinking and decision-making skills
- be more empathetic, thus improving our relationships with others
- improve our leadership skills
- have higher self-esteem
- be a better communicator
- increase our creativity
Ultimately, movement teaches us about ourselves in a very simple yet profound way and enables us to make positive changes.
Unleash your imagination
With its endless possibilities, movement is a great way to unleash your imagination. To let your creativity flow and explore different ways of moving your body.
Find freedom and expression
There’s no right or wrong way to move. Movement is a place where you can find freedom and express yourself. To let go of any expectations and lean into what feels good.
Spend quality time with others
Moving is an excellent way to spend quality time with your friends and family. Not to mention, getting to share and bond over a unique experience and make lasting memories.
Whether it’s something simple like a walk by the river or something a bit more challenging like rock climbing, there’s something truly special about getting active with others.
Explore nature
Nature and movement go hand in hand. By approaching our environment as stimulus for movement – moving over, around, up, along, under and through it – we explore the important physical relationship between humans and the environment—a relationship that has been devalued in our world of convenience and safety. Being efficient and fluid, harmonising with the environment, seeing obstacles as opportunities rather than barriers.
Conclusion
Movement isn’t always about getting it right, beating a personal best, doing it for a certain amount of time/times per week, or winning, but what you get out of it.
Embracing it as an opportunity to experience things, big or small, will make your movement that much more meaningful.