What is Joyful Movement?
Let’s play a quick word association game: When you hear the word “exercise”, what is the first thing you think of? For many, words like “exertion, exhaustion, challenge, and pain” may come to mind. For others, they might be thinking “sweat, hard work, or the gym”. And still others, probably have a visceral reaction to the word, shaking their head to clear away feelings of intimidation, inadequacy, fear, rejection, or failure. I’ll bet you, very few associated exercise with joyful movement, pleasure, or fun.
Joyful movement, huh? Sounds like an oxymoron. Exercise is supposed to be difficult and strenuous…isn’t it? The hard truth is, it doesn’t have to be. Exercise is too narrowly defined by diet culture as a way to shrink your body or bulk your muscles. Sadly, it has often been used as punishment for our eating habits and daily routines. A source of guilt for eating too much, moving too little, and taking up too much space.
As a result of this, many people have a negative relationship with exercise. The marketing around body movement is intense: a marathon prep running club, a calorie-burning pilates class, an extreme crossfit challenge. For some, these options provide the accountability and the challenge they want for their bodies and minds. Intense movement routines can be fulfilling and supportive for these individuals. Unfortunately, the marketing of fitness culture largely fails to promote alternative movement options. Some people aren’t looking for intense workouts or before and after photos which leads to a huge discrepancy in who can access the health benefits of exercise. That’s right- at the core of it all, isn’t exercise supposed to provide us with mental, physical, and emotional benefits to our health? With the idea of “joyful movement” at the forefront of fitness culture marketing, more of us would be able to recognize the opportunities available to us to move our bodies for enjoyment and take comfort in knowing that there are substantial health benefits that accompany it.
Joyful movement is the idea that exercising doesn’t have to be restrictive or rigid. Movement can be invigorating and fun! It can provide us with the opportunity to connect with our bodies and be curious about the movement we find enjoyable, leading us to create sustainable movement routines that feel accessible and manageable. Whether you’re walking with a friend, dancing solo to your favorite song in the kitchen, or finding your center in a yoga class, finding joyful movement establishes a level of trust within ourselves. You are taking the time to really listen to your body and respect it by choosing movement that supports what you need in the moment. No guilt, no shame, no punishment- just connection with what your body truly will benefit from.
Your movement routine should include joyful movement, which can also mean joyful resting. That’s right- REST. Rest is aligned with joyful movement ideals, affirming that you trust your body and listen when it is time to slow down. Rest is necessary for all bodies to relax, repair, and reset. Rest is productive. It is a reminder that movement is not a measure of your self-worth.
Let’s embrace joyful movement in the Pioneer Valley (Hadley, MA to be specific)! We can work towards prioritizing compassion and connection over aesthetics and numbers, leading us to feel more confident and supported in our daily lives.
At My Health Matters Fitness in Western Massachusetts, joyful movement is at the core of everything we do. We strive to meet you where you are at that day, in that moment and to support you in creating sustainable movement routines that are accessible and fun as you progress towards your personal movement goals, whatever they may be.
