When Movement Feels Heavy, Try This
I’m all for formal exercise. Stick to the plan, follow a system, build structure into your life — that’s how you get stronger, more capable, and more consistent.
But sometimes health can start to feel heavy. The rules, the routines, the pressure to be “perfect.” And when that happens, one of the best things we can do is to remember what movement used to be before we thought so much about it.
Jump. Run fast. Go outside. Walk barefoot. Play.
Not long ago, formal exercise wasn’t much of a thing. Movement was just woven into daily life. We walked more, played more, worked with our hands, and spent less time glued to screens. We weren’t so obsessed with being comfortable. And in the process, we stayed strong, resilient, and capable.
That doesn’t mean you should toss aside your training plan. Structure matters. But it does mean that health doesn’t only come from rigid routines and strict rules. Sometimes the most life-giving thing you can do for your body and mind is to move in ways that feel playful, freeing, and full of joy.
When we allow ourselves to move this way, we tap into a deeper kind of wellness — one that energizes us, relieves stress, and reminds us of the simple gift of being alive in our bodies.
Here are 3 ways to bring joy back into movement this week:
Schedule a “play” session. Shoot hoops, go for a hike, ride your bike, or dance in your living room. Make space for movement that isn’t about tracking or progress — it’s about fun.
Change your environment. Step outside, take off your shoes, and move in nature. Fresh air and new surroundings have a way of resetting the mind and body.
Mix freedom with structure. Stick to your training plan, but add one movement this week that has no rules. Let yourself explore, try, and enjoy.
Remember, strength is built in the gym, but life is lived outside of it. When health feels heavy, sometimes the answer is simply moving the way you were created to — freely, playfully, and with joy.
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xoxo,
Coach Cayt Miller
