My relationship with food and movement used to feel like a constant tug-of-war between Joy and Anxiety—just like the fictional yet accurate Inside Out 2 characters. Bikini Body ad campaigns didn’t help. Remember those? Do they still exist? Gross.

I once had a fitness instructor literally yell at our class—something about getting our summer abs ready and wanting to see us cry from pain. I think I laugh-cried in my delirium and disbelief. Needless to say I wasn’t a repeat customer.

P.S. Turns out a “beach body” is just a body at the beach. A revelation!

I genuinely find great pleasure in eating delicious food and moving in ways that make me feel strong and grounded. But after years of teen magazines, cringe-y fitness mantras, and comparison culture traps, my attitude around health became unhealthy.

This is unfortunately a story many of us share.

It’s taken a lot of intentional, internal work for me to shift from anxious approaches to ones rooted in more compassion and joy—even if anxiety still creeps up from time to time in these areas (and life in general TBH).

Mindfulness and yoga have been instrumental in this shift—though I admittedly once approached yoga and wellness from the same high-achieving, anxious mindset, too.

Growing up as a dancer was also amazing in so many ways—creative, expressive, communal—but at that time we weren’t taught much about how to manage the body image fixations many of us struggled with.

As I’ve shared before about wellness overwhelm and finding practices that work for us personally, I can sense when I’m about to get swept away by fitness trend crazes and podcast episodes featuring the most effective new workout.

The science-backed suggestions are probably well-intentioned (I hope?!), but they occasionally have the same icky vibe as outdated magazine headlines like “Do This Exercise for a Flat Summer Belly!” No thank youuuu.

This makes me reflect on how I’m introducing yoga, movement, wellness, and mindfulness as a teacher and coach. Although a person’s perceptions play a part in the matter, leaders play an important role in shaping how people approach wellness—especially sacred, time-tested practices like yoga.

We are also always modernizing everything by default, but we can do it without losing intention and integrity. We can personalize our own authentic version of something without perpetuating fear, guilt, or shame.

This is where I’m coming from, why I’m writing this, and how I aim to live and lead.

How much better might it feel individually and societally to approach fitness and food from a genuine place of caring for instead of fixing ourselves? What if food and fitness was introduced in a way that encourages this approach?

I digress—I can’t change the entire industry or everyone involved, and I’m by no means perfect or doing it all “right” myself. But I thought I’d start here.

By the way, a commitment to movement or fitness—whatever you want to call it—isn’t a self-centered act. We need strong, capable bodies and minds now more than ever. When we feel good, we can more naturally and effectively take care of others.

I curated supportive mind-body wellbeing lists on Amazon (I receive a small commission).

Inviting Joy vs Anxiety into your Movement Practice

I don’t really have a “proven method” to find more joy in lieu of anxiety in a movement regimen, and I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions.

But I do know this:

Integrating mindfulness practices into our life is imperative, because it creates awareness of our thoughts, patterns, habits, and re/actions.

From that foundational sense of mind-body awareness, we can continue to cultivate sustainable, personalized action steps toward transformation in all areas of our life. It’s ongoing, and it’s worth the effort.

I guess if I could sum it up, here’s what a mindful, more loving approach to movement could look like (edit and modify as needed to suit your circumstances):

• Just because science, celebrities, or a friend says a certain movement practice will change your life, it doesn’t mean it will be a good fit for you. Health and wellness is personal on all fronts—stay true to yourself and your experience.

• Try new things, slow down or modify when necessary, and gently push past your limits when you have the energy and desire to do so. Movement creates physical and mental stability and mobility—it’s not limited to one or the other. It’s also not limited to a restrictive regimen; to a specific timeframe or timeline. You can continually cultivate balance in ways that work for you as you evolve.

• Remember that humans have always moved out of both necessity and expression—from being chased by a saber-toothed tiger to changing tribal campgrounds; from foraging to farming; from holiday celebrations to pilgrimage rituals. A consistent movement practice doesn’t require a gym or an athleisure set.

• A movement practice doesn’t have to be torturous in order to achieve the results you want. It might be difficult and challenging, but you don’t have to deplete and destroy yourself to feel nourished and healthy.

• A movement practice doesn’t have to take up hours of your day. If you have 5 minutes, go for a quick walk, lift heavy things, stretch, dance, or do sets of planks and jumping jacks. Get creative with the time you have, and do what you can.

• Whether you’re in a groove, struggling with consistency, or trying something new, it can be helpful to revisit your desired outcome and why it’s important. Do you want to fit in, feel good, or heal something? Why does it matter to you?

• Understand that aesthetic goals are personal, and it’s not bad to have them. It’s just important to notice when it becomes problematic, like if they’re tied to your worth. (P.S.A. We are worthy no matter what we look like—I had to learn this myself.)

• If anxiety, shame, or fear show up, do your best to notice your feelings with compassion. Reconnect to why movement is important to you. Turn to the mindfulness practices that support your mental health, whether it’s meditation, journaling, breathwork, or therapy.

• Embrace your cycle if you have female reproductive organs. Hormones impact energy levels, strength, and recovery. I’ve learned a lot from my teacher Nikki about adapting a yoga practice for menstruation, and there’s growing research and guidance on beneficial movement during each phase of your cycle.

• Embrace rest! While a completely sedentary lifestyle isn’t supportive of physical or mental health, neither is a constant go-go-go approach. The body requires time and space to recover, restore, and integrate—this makes rest a vital part of any movement practice and a key component of mind-body longevity.

• Embrace joy! Movement can be incredibly therapeutic, playful, grounding, and freeing. Let it remind you of your ability to cultivate strength, agility, adaptability, and resiliency—and how that’s all inherently part of you.

• Express gratitude for your intelligent, capable body. The brilliant mechanics of our body will never surpass AI. Give thanks for your physical vessel whenever you can, even if it’s a tough day. How amazing that we can walk on this Earth, see and swim in water, feel grass beneath our feet, and taste sweet fruits!

The lovely and brilliant Carrie Owerko recently wrote about resilience, “Adversity is inevitable. The ways in which we bounce back and thrive, and the time it takes to do so will look different for everyone. But it is possible.”

Here’s to building a more joyful, inclusive, and sustainable wellness world together :)

If you’re seeking guidance around your relationship with movement and mindfulness—I’ve been there. Reach out for 1:1 wellness coaching or test a free virtual yoga class.

What’s your preferred movement practice these days, and how does it make you feel?

Take good care,

S

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