Are You Moving?

 

Dear Reader,

I just got in from a long walk with my wife, Louise. We went to one of our new favorite spots, a little hill on a bay facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is a gorgeous spot, with dramatic rocks and sea stacks in the background.

The walk did me SO much good, especially as we end week seven of lockdown here in Shetland.  I didn’t get out for a walk yesterday, and I missed it!

That’s why I want to ask – are you moving every day as part of your lockdown routine?

I hope so!

I highly, highly recommend movement not just as part of your daily routine, but as part of your spiritual practice. Here are just a few possibilities to give you some ideas.

Dance in your living room

This is my personal favorite! Every morning after meditation, without fail, I spend three minutes or so dancing around the coffee table, past the sofa, and in front of the window. No music; I just pay attention to how my body wants to move in silence, and I follow it. Since it’s early in the morning, my movement is usually gentle, but I allow myself to be surprised.

If you try this one:

• you do not need to know how to dance! This is just for you.
• You can do it with or without music. Music can help you find a rhythm and get you inspired, but dancing in silence can help you really focus on your physicality, how your body feels, and what it wants.
• Make sure you have space to move safely.
• Take a few moments to pay attention to your body, and let it speak to you. Your body is intelligent when you listen, and it knows how it wants to move.
• Dance and movement can be part of your spiritual practice. When you pay attention to your body in movement, you tap into your body’s wisdom, create a constructive outlet to recognize and channel your emotions, turn off your mind chatter and free your spirit! And most importantly, you bring all of that into alignment in a powerful way.

Give yourself permission and don’t worry too much about how you do it. You’ll feel great afterward!

Other indoor movement forms

If you already do some other indoor movement form like yoga, tai chi, or Qigong, go for it. Those forms have many of the same benefits as dance, giving you an opportunity to regulate and direct the flow of energy in your body.

If you haven’t yet tried one of those forms – time to start? Do a little research, see which one calls to you, and head to Youtube for some good quality instructional video. When lockdown ends, you can look for classes near you. In fact, during this time, many local instructors may already be offering online classes. You can find them and get to know them that way first.

If all else fails, you can always walk around your house or do steps/stairs. I did that during recovery from open heart surgery, and it was fantastic. I did it every few hours, and it added much needed structure to my day.

As long as you find some way to move, whether remembering to stretch in your chair if you are working at your computer, or getting up and looking out the window – movement makes a difference.

Get outside!

Even if you are dancing or doing some form of movement indoors, getting outside to exercise is so important. Whether walking, running, or bike riding, it gives you the benefits of movement while immersing you in nature.

Here is Shetland, we only get one outdoor exercise period right now under lockdown. Hopefully that will change soon, but Louise and I make the most of it. Being outside can inspire you, give you fresh air, and give you an opportunity to think differently. If you are doing any kind of creative work, going for a walk is a great way to free up your thinking and make you receptive to an aha moment.

Final thoughts

You probably already have some form of movement you are doing, but it’s so easy to take for granted or let it slide. Please, make sure you are moving every day. Find a new way to incorporate movement in your day (hint: dancing in your living room is my favorite. Try it!)

Practice being present when you move; feel your movement fully. This is an important part of your spiritual practice. How you move is part of who you are, and you are to be cherished. Give your movement the attention it deserves for the next week, and see how you feel as a result.

Leave a comment and let me  know how it goes!

I honor your loving heart,

John