The Art of Spontaneous Movement

As a busy mother of 3, fitting exercise time in can be challenging. (Yes, even for a woman who is a fitness professional.) Finding a substantial block of time to exercise or experience real movement can be challenging for any mom, so that is why I propose spontaneous bursts of dancing, yoga, stretching, or whatever speaks to you in the moment.

Unfortunately, the fitness industry has overcomplicated exercise and conditioned us to think that we must wear certain attire, and we must get our heart rate up to 60 – 85% of maximum, and keep doing that for at least 30-minutes. And what often happens is that the “I don’t have time” or the “I don’t want to get all sweaty” or the “I don’t have the right clothes” excuses override our need to move.

The art of spontaneous movement requires becoming mindful, setting aside electronics and other distractions, and:

PAUSE . . .

BREATHE . . .

Feel . . .

Watch . . .

and

ALLOW.

If movement is part of the answer to our feelings of restlessness, anger, sadness, depression, creative blocks, or other physical and emotional stagnation, then we respond to the urge to move. I believe that we, as humans, were made to move and much of what ails us comes from lack of movement. And notice I don’t call it exercise. It is simple – – one foot in front of the other – – MOVEMENT.

Now you may see why I never lasted long at a desk job… For me, movement is often the answer to cure my woes, but sometimes, no movement can be the perfect response. Knowing when to slow down requires slowing down. Remember?

Pause . . . Breathe . . . Feel . . . Watch . . . Allow.

This is where we, as moms who juggle responsibilities at home, work, school, church, and socially, cannot understand when to settle down. Our adrenals (the gland that produces cortisol, the “stress hormone”) become depleted. What results is feelings of extreme fatigue and slowed metabolism, which can often lead to weight gain.

So, your mantra might sound something like this as you, in your best rendition of the Clash, sing, “Should I move or should I rest?”

PAUSE . . . BREATHE . . . FEEL . . . WATCH . . . ALLOW

This method can be used several times throughout your day. For example, you may feel exhausted and sluggish in the afternoon after sitting at your desk for 2-hours. You could a) go to Starbuck’s and grab a Venti latte or b) take a short walk or c) do 5 jumping jacks and throw 5 punches in the air.

How about when the kids are driving you nuts and you can’t get away from it all? You make sure the kids are safe and you go in the bathroom and lock the door and you

Pause . . . Breathe . . . Feel . . . Watch . . . Allow.

Are you in for thirty minutes to an hour of cooking? Here’s what I do! Adorned in jeans and a long sleeve shirt (hardly traditional Yoga attire), I use a nearby bar stool and expressively sprawl out into Sidelying Dancer. I attempt to find some inner peace in the kitchen, hoping to seamlessly impart some of that upon our delicious meal that evening. Ahh! The relief to my back and tired thighs.

Do whatever comes naturally to you. Dance with your baby. Run circles around your toddler. Or best of all, just sit and listen to yourself breathe!

Find your way, naturally, and trust that your body knows how to move itself. You just have to pause and listen.