Movement As More Than Mechanics
Movement isn’t just about strengthening muscles or improving flexibility—it’s a pathway to something much deeper. When we engage in mindful movement and intentionally work on improving how we move, we often find that we are unlocking layers of ourselves we didn’t even know were waiting for our attention.
The Body Mind Connection
The body and mind are intricately linked, communicating constantly. When we feel tightness, stiffness, or pain in our bodies, it’s often a signal, not just a mechanical issue. Movement invites us into these signals. It asks us to notice where things feel easy and where resistance shows up. As we gain awareness of our body’s compensations, strengths, and limitations, we aren’t just improving our physical mechanics—we’re tuning into the nervous system’s responses and its relationship with safety and regulation.
Movement as a Gateway, as a Connection to More Of Yourself
This connection can be profoundly transformative because movement serves as an entry point to understanding ourselves. When we slow down and notice the sensations in the body, we may uncover emotions or memories that have been stored or ignored. For example, tension in the neck may be more than just a postural imbalance; it could hold the weight of stress, unmet needs, or unprocessed grief. As we work to release this tension through mindful movement or supportive therapies, we’re not just relaxing muscles—we’re creating space for emotional release and healing.
This process of unlocking and restoring the body’s natural movement patterns can also reveal what’s been out of alignment in other areas of our lives. For many, this shows up as clarity around relationships, work dynamics, or long-held beliefs that are no longer serving us. As we become more connected to our physical selves, we naturally start recognizing when something feels off beyond the body. The nervous system is designed to seek safety and alignment, not just in movement but in every aspect of life.
What I Learned Recovering From Falling Down My Stairs and Spraining My Coccyx.
When I fell down my stairs the day after Christmas, 2010, I knew I was going to become my own best student. The process was an entire year which began with a few months of chiropractic and physical therapy, followed by a step by step process returning to my yoga practice and skiing. It was much more than physical. It also tapped me into something much deeper – a connection to my inner knowing and inner truth.
In the early stages of my recovery I was going through a divorce, and my mom had been diagnosed with Cancer. I had plenty to legitimately complain about. But as I noticed myself complaining in my head or out loud in my house to no one in particularly, I could also feel my pelvic floor becoming tighter and tighter. It would have been easy to say “oh that is because of my fall”, and I wouldn’t have been wrong… however, I decided to deliberately choose a different path. Instead, I asked what my pelvic floor needed. The response – “complaining isn’t the way”. In that moment I focused myself on what I did want, and my pelvic floor completely relaxed.
From that point on I took on the notion that my Body is My Barometer. There is wisdom there and I used the symptoms as a guide – listening to the Whispers so I Wouldn’t Have to Hear the Screams. There is no doubt that my healing process was intricately related to my listening to my body.
All in all, your body can become the guide. Movement isn’t just about “getting stronger” or “feeling better” physically—it’s about building an ongoing dialogue with ourselves. When we embrace this process, we learn to trust the body’s messages and honor its wisdom. And as we do, we start to notice that improving our movement isn’t a singular goal—it leads to better relationships, richer self-awareness, and the courage to connect withthe the things we’ve been avoiding.
Healing and growth can be uncomfortable, even messy.. it can absolutely suck. But just like in movement, where we might feel shaky before finding balance, this process ultimately brings us closer to authenticity. As we move better, we live better—more aligned with our truth, and more connected to those around us.
