Sacred Rituals: Movement

Let's be real, I hate working out! I hate sweating and would 100% rather lay on the couch and watch a movie. But I cannot deny that I feel a huge shift in how I feel and how I feel about myself when I am consistently moving my body. I have a goal to move my body, mindfully, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Out of all my rituals, this is the one that I have trouble staying true to and I want to change that.

The biggest hurdle is just showing up. I am that person who goes into a workout thinking, "Here I go doing a stupid workout for my stupid mental health", but I leave feeling accomplished and invigorated. There are some things I do to motivate myself to actually get to the point of working out and moving my body.

Have you ever felt down and out of sorts, but as soon as you put on your favorite outfit, your mood instantly shifts? Well, I truly think we are what we wear. This rings true with workout clothes. I recently went and did an Aerie haul of some workout clothes that I felt would motivate me to be the type of girl that enjoys working out.

The trick to this is to get clothes that make you feel empowered and confident to make you want to show up for yourself. Don't get clothes that you think you should have just because that's what other girls wear or that's what's in. Get clothes that make you look in the mirror and think "Wow, I look and feel good!". Let the outfit inspire you.

Having a separate set of clothes strictly for working out is a game-changer. I have been the person that mixed workout clothes and lounge clothes. I mean, leggings are just as comfy laying around as they are doing a yoga flow. I realized that I need to make a boundary. If I am wearing clothes that I work out in, then I better be doing a workout. Otherwise, I may be tempted to lounge in them when I am supposed to be moving my body. I am essentially conditioning myself. "Oh, got my rust leggings on, it must be time to hit the treadmill." By associating certain pieces with moving your body, it will just feel natural to show up and do that pilates ab routine.

We did 2 things with our clothes right now: made them desirable and made them functional. Just with a piece of fabric, we set a foundation for a new habit.

Now just like with anything, you need to find what you love to do. I enjoy pilates, yoga, and walking, so I base all my movements around those things. Every single gorgeous babe has a different body type, which means workouts don't come in a "one-size-fits-all". We are all starting at different places and have different goals, which is beautiful and amazing. That means you need to find what works for you. I like low-impact exercises, but maybe you like running marathons (god, I can't relate, but good for you). Have fun with this, explore. Maybe you dislike exercise because you haven't found what works for you yet.

I suggest finding classes in your community that interests you. Or there are so many adult leagues nowadays if you're looking for a more sports-related approach. I encourage you to find something you love to motivate you to move your body daily. This needs to be something you look forward to, not something you dread every day. My introverted self wanted to exercise within the comfort of my own home, so I found Melissa Wood Health, which I am obsessed with. Her yoga and pilates-focused flows come in a variety of lengths and I enjoy Melissa's calm and positive attitude. Between this and my treadmill, it makes it easy for me to take 30 minutes after work to show up for myself.

Finally, I want to talk about moving with intention. We tend to get ahead of ourselves and do it for the outcome. I want to lose 20 pounds, I want 6-pack abs, I want my mental health to be better... The list goes on and on. It is good to have goals, but not to the detriment of the journey. Don't exercise to achieve an outcome, but instead to just be good to yourself. It's okay if you don't lose those 20 pounds, what matters is that you're showing up for yourself to be healthy. I've noticed the people that focus on just being healthy and showing up for themselves daily are the ones that inevitably end up achieving their goals anyway.

Now whether it is a quick walk around the block or a 45 minute gym session, get out there and move your body for yourself.