Feeling in a state of funk? The best thing to do to shake it off is to get your body moving, in any way, in any shape, to any rhythm. Just do it! For me, it's always hiking out in nature or moving my body through yoga. It works, every single time. The breath starts to flow through you, it gets deeper and more oxygen is pumped to all your cells. No, your problems won't disappear and the reality will still remain the same, but what will have changed is your perception and reaction to the world because movement allows us to move towards a more peaceful state. And for a moment, for a little while, everything is ok.
Sometimes that it all we need to get up, start fresh and to get going. Of course, just one time is not enough: this is a life practice. Just like eating food or drinking water is not done only once or occasionally, taking care of body and mind requires constant commitment and dedication.
People always tell me "I want to but I just don't have time to run or exercise. I'm too busy." It's hard, I get it. I'm human, just like you. I'm weak some days and it's easy for me as well to deem physical movement less important than other things. But the hardest part is not finding time. The hardest part is re-evaluating and understanding ourselves and how we use our time and then taking action to make healthy changes. How many times have you caught youself spending half an hour just navigating online, clicking aimlessly one link after an hour? I have. I do. 🤷🏻♀️😑 And as soon as I recognize that behaviour, I have made a habit to get up right away, roll out my yoga mat and move.
Out in nature, everything is naturally easier and it's immediately effortless to be present and not to get caught up in your mind. I have made a habit of always leaving my phone in the car before I go out on a hike and thankfully my husband brings his, so I can still take some pictures 🤠
No one ever said: "I don't feel good after physical exercise." In fact, what I always hear after class is "I'm so happy I came to class. I nearly didn't come." I myself always feel incredible, like I can fly, like everything is possible! If we can only remember that wonderful feeling of ease and harmony we find after moving the body! That's the place we need to imprint on our memory so that we can link that feeling of satisfaction to urgency.
So here is an invitation, a reminder for you, for me to move. Every day! Even if it's for 20min. For our health and state of being!