I have a question: Where do you find Pleasure in Movement?
I'm saying "movement" and not "exercise" for a reason. There are so many things that increase our heart rate, increase flexibility and build strength. Lots of these activities are fun. Exercise is not often thought of as fun, but more of something that we should do because it's good for us. Nothing wrong with that, and certainly, whatever motivates you to treat your body well is excellent.
I'm asking because what motivates me to do just about anything is pleasure. And though I do enjoy the anticipated pleasure of how wonderful my body will feel in the sauna after a good hard workout at the gym, it takes a lot to get my butt into some lycra and hop onto a machine, or into a class, or pool.
Once upon a time I was beating myself up for not taking good care of my health. Lamenting about how bad I am at eatting well and exercising, flossing my teeth and coming out of my annual physicals like I'd just been crowned Miss Uber Healthy Canada (by the way, if you are looking for a way to get healthier, beating yourself up is not the most efficient route to take). I decided to stop trying to play a game I wasn't going to win and instead, invent a new game and make up my own rules.
It all stemmed from the question, what are pleasurable things that make me feel healthy and alive and amazing? Answering this question gave me more than a list of things I could do to create that feeling of wellness. It gave me options that were pleasurable, which meant I could create lifestyle changes that would be sustainable.
What surprised me was how much of these things had little to do with leafy greens and beach-bod-booty-camp. So many things that made me feel healthy and alive looked a lot more like self care, treating myself with love and celebrating my body. More on this in a later post...right now I'm talking about Movement.
So getting back to the Pleasure of Movement, I'd like to share with you three things I do for fun that also happen to be wonderful for my heart and health:
- Hula Hooping. I love love love hooping! This is really on my brain because it's sunny in Toronto and that means I can hoop barefoot in the parks with my friends, including the wonderful Allison Tarr of Positive Spin, who has taught me a fun thing or two on the beautiful hoop she made me.
- Dancing. At a club, in my bedroom, at a fantastic event like Jamie Ridler's inspiring Groove Back, it doesn't matter. Moving my body to music as much or as little as I feel like moving. Dancing is awesome.
- Swimming. The feeling of being in water, and the ways my body can squirm and sail around with so much freedom and flexibility is simply delightful. Also delightful is the opportunity to imagine I'm a mermaid. Very pleasurable indeed.
What are three ways you experience Pleasure in Movement?
Speaking of Pleasure, here are some yummy related videos to enjoy:
To watch a video of Allison rocking out with her SO MUCH FUN glow hoop, click right here.
To watch a video Jamie made celebrating the first ever Groove Back event, click right here. I'm wearing a long black skirt :)
And finally, if you also like to imagine you're a mermaid when you swim, perhaps this video tutorial on how to make your own mermaid tail will inspire you to turn the volume of that fantasy waaaaay up. That's right. Click right here.