For years, I’ve been cycling, spinning, and distracting myself from just sitting down and making some words come out. If I want to become the person I envision, I need to prioritize my practices, especially movement, which is a constant journey of knowing and justifying what you already believe or understand, and incorporating it into your actions. It’s an ever-evolving discovery and experience of knowing.
I’ve always known that movement is medicine. Moving better, faster, and stronger is possibly the largest determining factor in well-being and longevity. Yet, many blocks have justified not fully incorporating movement-related protocols because movement seemed like something I “had” to do to achieve an outcome. Initially, I did yoga and stretching to alleviate aches and pains from bike riding and a mostly sedentary lifestyle. Cleaning up my diet and lifestyle allowed me to move differently, but a stubborn mindset about yoga limited my understanding of various modalities.
At first, I saw yoga and the gym as the main avenues of movement, unaware of the multitude of other options like martial arts, dance, and sports. Gym workouts seemed to be about getting big muscles, and yoga was for flexibility—neither of which appealed to me as I started out with the goal of losing weight. My initial exercise was running, while diet changes, like drinking more water and eating fruits and vegetables, helped me lose weight. However, this uncovered deeper levels of trauma from injuries and experiences.
Over the years, my weight, mood, and attitude toward self-discovery and wellness fluctuated. It took time, triumphs, falls, and lots of YouTube videos explaining concepts. One significant moment was learning about BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and how exercise releases it, promoting stem cell growth and making you smarter. This understanding drove my goal of getting stronger for many years until recurring injuries and pain made it frustrating.
Injuries, instabilities, and pain, particularly in my inner thigh and knee, persisted for over four years and only recently began to clear up. The disconnect between the purpose of exercise and movement became evident. The journey of self-discovery involves oscillations of aha moments sparked by good or bad situations. Understanding that great positive changes can be achieved by shifting mindset and awareness has been a key realization.
Instantaneous results from diet and lifestyle shifts contrast with the consistent work required for exercise, movement, and rehabilitation. Despite knowing the benefits, there are blocks to incorporating these practices. Recently, a podcast with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon highlighted muscles’ role in the endocrine system, managing glucose storage and processing. Her passion for muscle health redefined my understanding and reignited my motivation to focus on muscle health, beyond aesthetics.
In essence, the journey of self-discovery through movement is ongoing. It requires recognizing and overcoming blocks, embracing new insights, and understanding the deeper purpose behind movement practices. This journey is about allowing for greater expansion of self-expression through consistent movement and rehabilitation, leading to a healthier, more fulfilling life.
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