Do you remember the dreaded beep test? We ran those lines it till our lungs or legs gave way. How about showing up late to gym class.. did you too have to do push-ups? For me, there were countless occasions of running laps after a game because the rugby match was lost. Or in soccer try outs, doing push ups or sprints (my choice) when the scrimmage was lost. It is here where physically, we learned to go until we can’t. We learned to exercise to failure.
We started an unconscious association between movement (exercise) and punishment. We learned that fitness is not something to be enjoyed but rather something we do when we have done something wrong. 😏
The thing is, the older I get and the more sedentary some days try to become (work, school etc.) the more I realize how good my body feels when I do consciously move. For me, movement has been a part of my daily life since I was a little girl. Movement is trained into my system. It’s who I am, it’s what comes natural to me.
But I also know I am not the norm. Growing up, I was always the tall one (which I used to hate) with deer like legs. Competing in track and field meets came easy to me. Between the ages of 6 and 16 I was on the track and field team, played volleyball, field hockey and even tried to play rugby. I lived on my pedal bike, took horseback riding lessons and played golf in the summertime at Duncan Meadows. At the age of 15 I had my first gym membership and I loved it.
More to the Movement Relationship topic..
What if we have it all wrong?
What if the reason we always start and stop exercising is because our early relationship with movement was not a healthy one? Perhaps the reason our honest attempts to “start going to the gym,” “get fit” and “start running” fail are not actually our fault but rather a mixed relationship we only grew to understand. A mixed relationship between physical activity and punishment.
Trisha’s thoughts on movement for the health of it!
If you are like me, then you are interested in living a healthy lifestyle because doing so leaves you feeling good. There is no question movement is foundational to a healthy lifestyle. So exactly how much movement do we need in order to be healthy?
It’s surprising how little movement we actually need in order to meet Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines. The experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week. For you, this could look like a little over 20 minutes of briskly walking per day and doing activities such as resistance training a couple of days a week.
Movement equals self care. It means coming home, tuning in and connecting with the body and mind. It is carving out ‘me time‘ during each day to decrease pain or prevent injury. It is building or re-building resiliency. It is often a time for the physical body to move from an anxious state to one which is both grounded and energized.
Trisha believes everyone deserves a life free of pain. And proper healing after injury requires self care. It involves learning and executing a physical body re-build of mobility and/ or strength.
For most of this, this means working with a Qualified Exercise Professional. Someone who has formal knowledge and experience with your injury or condition as well as one who understands the effects of any medication you are taking. Exercise professionals may be titled “Exercise Physiologist”, “Kinesiologist,” “Athletic Therapist” or ”Physiotherapist”.
Next post we will discuss ways to Set Yourself Up For Success in the Gym or at Home.
Interested in working with Trisha? Trisha is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Certified Athletic Therapist. She offers 1-on-1 training in her private 800 sq. foot home based movement studio. The supervised exercise sessions are individually tailored to meet your needs. You’ll experience guidance, empowerment and clarity on safe movement while receiving the physical support necessary to make lasting change.
Duration: 60-minutes | Cost: $90
trishagilks.ca 