Choose Your Own Adventure: What If Movement Had More Options?

Reader,

Do you remember reading the Choose Your Own Adventure books?

There was something exciting about reaching a point in the story where you got to decide what happened next. Rather than simply following the author's storyline, you became part of the adventure.

And if you didn't like where your decision took you? You could flip back a few pages and choose another direction!

I've been thinking about how much those books remind me of mindful movement.

What if you could choose your own movement adventure?

When we think about exercise, we often think about following instructions. Move your arm this way. Complete a certain number of repetitions. Hold a position for a particular length of time.

There's a place for that kind of guidance, but what happens when we give ourselves permission to explore?

During my 30-minute Mindful Movement sessions, I invite participants to become curious about their own experiences.

What happens if you move a little slower? Change your breathing? Explore a different direction? Or simply pause and notice how you're feeling?

Each choice offers an opportunity to discover something about yourself.

And sometimes we don't know what we don't know until we arrive there.

Your body can be your teacher

For someone living with pain, stiffness, or physical limitations, it's easy to become focused on what hurts or feels difficult.

But what else might your body be telling you?

Perhaps there's a movement that feels surprisingly comfortable. Maybe a change in breathing shifts how you experience a familiar movement. Or perhaps doing less, rather than more, feels helpful that day.

When we approach movement with curiosity rather than rigid expectations, we create opportunities to notice things we might otherwise overlook.

You can always choose another page

Here's something else I love about those books. You weren't stuck with your first decision.

The same is true with movement.

If something doesn't feel helpful, you can change it. If a movement doesn't work for your body that day, you can explore another option.

That isn't getting the exercise wrong. That's participating in the experience.

It's also how I approach my one-on-one clinical work. My professional knowledge matters, but so does your lived experience. There are things you know about yourself that I cannot know unless we explore them together.

Movement doesn't always have to follow a predetermined storyline.

Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries happen when we're willing to turn to a different page.

The next time you move, what might happen if you gave yourself permission to choose your own adventure?

If you're curious about exploring movement in this way, you're welcome to join me for Mindful Movement in The MedFit Movement Studio.

​
​

Stay well and happy moving,
Lisa

​
​

Supporting you in your physical activity journey.

​www.lisaworkman.com​