I find it fascinating when women lament the absence of exercise in their lives. They tell me they are not exercising, that they don’t or can’t get themselves to the gym, and almost always add some deprecating body comments or criticisms. (These same women describe feeling better about their bodies and toward their bodies and themselves when they “exercise” regardless of any actual discernible differences).
When I ask them to tell me about their lives and they describe the many ways in which they are active I wonder why they don’t view their activity as exercise. They are moving! Moving is exercise. Exercise is movement.
These are women who are cleaning [private_membership circle]their homes, grocery shopping, cooking, walking up and down stairs, caring for children or parents, working and moving in jobs outside the home. Do you know anybody like this?
I wonder how our definition of physical exercise has been influenced by the big business of “gyms” and formal fitness programs and services.
I wonder what might happen if we change the way we view our bodies moving through life and space. Perhaps we will be able to acknowledge the many ways in which we move, shake, wiggle, and waggle as “exercise”.
Maybe this can perpetuate good feelings about ourselves and our bodies and lead to increasing loving kindness, appreciation and self care.
Let’s agree to notice all the ways we move each day, pay attention to how this makes us feel and to notice our paths to self care.
I would love to learn about your observations.
______________________________
Robin Okun, LMSW, is a coach, therapist, speaker and Founder of Mindful Movement, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more about Robin at http://www.robinokun.com [/private_membership circle]
