What is Joyful Movement & Why is it Important?

amberlynwellbeing
Jun 1, 2023
2 min read

Do you use exercise as a form of punishment? Do you dread working out, every time? Do you have to push through your workout, a lot? These might be signs that moving towards incorporating joyful movement could be helpful to you.

More often than not exercise and physical activity is used as a tool in order to reach a certain goal, most common aesthetically. What happens when we are active because we want to be? When we are enjoying exercise? Diet culture and fitness culture has done a good job at making people feel like being active has to be hard and painful in order for it to be worth it. Why?

Joyful can often be used interchangeably with intuitive in this context.

Joyful movement means moving your body in a way that is enjoyable to you. Listening to the cues your body gives you and determining what will feel good in the moment, versus what you should be doing. Instead of focusing on manipulating your body size, it can help you focus more on health markers (blood pressure, reduced stress, improved digestion, improved sleep). It’s a way to approaching physical activity that emphasizes and focuses on pleasure, allowing for flexibility and creativity.

As someone who is recovering from orthorexia, I have found joyful movement helpful in steering my thinking away from what I should be doing towards what my body wants and needs. As someone who finds it very helpful to have things planned and lined up form me intuitive movement can be daunting. What has been helpful is planning on moving your body (everyday ideally) any day, and having a list of activities that I can pick from when I don’t have anything in mind.

Tips for engaging in joyful movement

Try activities that you find fun and you actually want to do
Do it with a buddy
Set goals that have nothing to do with calories or body size
Remember movement comes in all forms - don't limit yourself because it doesn't look like a structured workout
Meet yourself where you are - mentally and physically on any given day
Journal your experience - helps you check in with yourself