Movement is Medicine

While living in Canmore, AB, I had the pleasure of going on a coffee date with the wise and soulful Clara Hughes. For those who don't know of her, she is a former cyclist and speed skater who is the only athlete to have won multiple medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics as well as a mental health advocate who has been the face of Bell Let's Talk since 2010. I kept seeing her at my favourite yoga studio in Canmore (Wildheart) and decided to ask her on a coffee date! She introduced me to a golden milk almond latte and we walked along the Bow River talking about life in general. My biggest take away from Clara was her mantra in life of #movementismedicine.

Six years later this message rings true more than ever. Just as the pandemic hit, I was in a stage in my life where my body was really suffering from a lot of pain, tension and inflammation. As a kid, I did a lot of sports such as track & field, cross country, basketball, volleyball, gymanstics, frisbee, skiing and really anything that required a lot of running. Later in life I underwent three separate surgeries for various reasons (ankle surgery, ACL repair & C-section) which later took a significant toll on my body. It was exactly March of 2020 when I found yoga and committed to just 10 mins a day. I told myself there was no way I could talk myself out of 10 mins of movement a day. I had done many workout models over the years: gyms, spin studios, yoga classes etc., but this 10 mins a day finally stuck.

As I explained in some earlier posts, in Dec 2021 my body finally said “ENOUGH!!!!”. Enough stress, enough tension, enough anxiety. Just STOP. The pain I experienced was earth shattering, but I can clearly see now how the movement I did daily was a dose of medicine that my body needed. That movement has now turned into daily pilates that ranges anywhere from 10-30 mins a day and it has been a game changer for my body, mind and spirit. Not only does my back no longer hurt, but my hips and ITs are way happier, my core is strong and my posture has never been better. I am so grateful to Lia Bartha and her method as I am learning how mobility, strength and spine health are everything as we go into our later years of life.

Every day I coach clients who range from ICs to C-Suite level individuals and the topic of movement is a common thread. We are all so busy these days, and often spend so much time doing the shoulds, musts and need tos, so a powerful question I love to ask my clients is “what do you want to give yourself permission to do today?”. This is where self-compassion comes in. Making sure we also do what we want. I encourage you to find time to move daily by giving yourself permission to take care of you. Not doing it because you should or must, but because you want to and it feels good. You are worthy and you deserve this form of self-care.

So ask yourself today “what am I going to give myself permission to do today?” and go do it!

#movementismedicine  #coaching #selflove