Join the Movement!
"Change happens through movement and movement heals." ~ Joseph Pilates
Our topic this week is also a challenge: Move with Courage! Research continues to show that daily movement can benefit your mental AND your physical health. Anything from light stretching to moderate exercise to vigorous activity can do the trick. The key is to find activities you enjoy and to do them with people you like (or alone if you prefer).
I’m proof that movement heals. For much of my life, I went to the gym and attended aerobics classes regularly. But then, the unthinkable happened. I started feeling chronic pain and fatigue, and doctors and specialists could not figure out the cause. Determined to find something that didn’t cause more pain, I discovered Pilates. The gentle gliding (and compassion of my instructors) transformed me. The movement helped my body – and my attitude. I started feeling healthier, brighter, and stronger.
That’s why this week, and throughout the entire month of July, we’re challenging YOU to move any way you want – walk, run, bike, hike, swim, paddle, dance, wheel, garden, do Pilates, practice yoga, meditate – with our MOVE WITH COURAGE Micro-Challenge Calendar.
And here are five tools to help you incorporate movement as part of your everyday routine, taken from this article:
TAKE THE STAIRS: Taking the stairs instead of the elevator increases your heart rate, helps with balance, and improves lower-extremity strength.
PARK FAR AWAY: While we need to be safe and alert to our surroundings, if you’re in a safe and well-lit area, consider parking further from the entrance of wherever you’re going. Adding in a few minutes of walking time here and there adds up over time and can increase your daily step count!
FOSTER A PET: Local shelters are always looking for volunteers to help. Take the family to the shelter and volunteer to take a few dogs for a walk. You get to increase your time outside, help a dog and your community, teach your kids about caring for others, and spend some quality family time being active and moving your body.
DANCE PARTY: Clear the furniture from the room, and put on some tunes. You can do this while cooking dinner, folding laundry, or vacuuming. Dancing is a fabulous way to burn calories and work on your balance and coordination.
FUN & FRIENDS: Schedule a walk, hike, or swim, with friends. When you make movement FUN it’s easier all around! It will be something you look forward to and easier to make a priority.
Remember, making a commitment to improve your physical and mental health by being active doesn’t mean you have to train for a marathon, you just have to MOVE your body – every day – in the way that’s best for YOU.