How You Move Matters

One of the things I really look forward to in the New Year is a 30 day yoga challenge by Yoga with Adriene. It’s free on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene) and I have no affiliation whatsoever. 

By no means do I consider myself a yogi and I’m not here to convince you to do yoga (although I do believe it’s worth a try!). On day 3 called “How”, a big takeaway that I continue to think about is “How You Move Matters”. 

The basics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are that your thoughts impact your emotions which impact your behavior. But it can go the other way, too. Think about when you are behaving frantically, trying to multi-task or rushing. How does it really make you feel? Do you actually get things done quicker and feel relief? Most of the time the answer is no and quite the opposite. When we’re in a constant go-go-go state and trying to multi-task, we tend to make more mistakes and experience an increase in uncomfortable emotions. 

Our body also communicates back to the mind and when our bodies are expressing a state of distress, our minds follow. It works on the opposite end of the spectrum, too. When we move in a more calm manner, slowing down and taking things one at a time, our minds follow suite.

Like most things, this takes practice! I encourage you to find at least one moment in your day where you slow down and really pay attention to how you move and what you’re doing. Maybe it’s when you’re making your coffee or tea in the morning. Maybe it’s in the grocery store, while driving, enjoying a meal or brushing your teeth. It’s often easiest to start with something you already do and that isn’t too intense. As you practice this, you may start to notice how it gradually impacts other areas of your life and how you approach situations.