Do you like to move it, move it?

Do you like to move it, move it?

I certainly want to be able to move my body freely in every direction for as long as I live, who doesn’t? Moving is primal, we were made to move – to run, walk, skip, dance but not in a linear way – in an instinctive way. We run when we’re scared or dance when our heart beats to the rhythm of the music or skip when we’re happy. Moving is part of who we are.

”It’s the going keeps you going”

What I’ve learned that is most important about moving over the last 25 years is that you have to keep doing it. ”It’s the going keeps you going” said an elderly 90 year old woman to me who had suffered several bouts of pneumonia and generally found breathing difficult without oxygen. She walked with her stroller along the care home’s corridors, not pushing herself to do more than her body could take, but she’d learned to make sure she did enough to stay on her feet and keep moving. I think it is necessary to say she was very kind, always looking out for the other (younger) older people and putting them before herself. She enjoyed the very important independence that moving as freely as she could gave to her in the last stages of her life. This independence is definitely not to be overlooked!!

Do you like to move it, move it?

As you get older 50, 60 ,70 the body often succumbs to some kind of illness or injury. Then often in frustration you don’t accept that your body can’t do what it did when you were a decade younger and this can be where all your problems start.

Some people push their body hard even when injured or sore resorting to that old saying conditioned into us ‘no pain, no gain.’ Then unfortunately you can find your body retaliate with another injury or illness to make you STOP. Usually when the body is injured or ill it is saying ”slow down and do less, listen to me please.”

Allowing my body to move me.

To keep moving the body is vital at any age but you must pay attention to your body’s needs. This means listening deeply to how your body wishes to move…yes that’s right…..this may be different to your idea of how it should move, what you want to impose upon it.

When I practice Yoga I find my flow, rhythm, sense of joy, ease of movement. Movement is flow not static shapes. Movement is awareness of the joy of being Alive – ” I like to move it, move it” – feeling my limbs and joints move freely, noticing how all the parts of my body are connected. When I move my arm I can feel it in my spine or maybe even in my feet. I listen to my body and allow it to move me. Then I find the effortlessness in the effort, the ease in the flow and the grace with which this body deserves to be treated.

Feed your body with gratitude and good food.

How often do you give your body appreciation or gratitude for being there for you, your entire existence, even though you don’t always treat it with the respect it is worthy of. Feeding your body with gratitude ‘Vitamin G’ and nutritious food is essential for being able to enjoy moving freely now and in your future, otherwise inflammation sets in and your body will struggle to maintain itself. Your body is separate to who you are and to your concept or idea of how you should move it, it is the movement.

So after reading this ‘Do you like to move it, move it?’ To be able to move is a privilege not just something you should take for granted. Did you ever consider for a moment that you may not have the same freedom to move one day? Would you be able to move through that time with acceptance or do you feel yourself resisting the whole idea of it. There is movement going on all the time in nature. Even nature is finding a new flow, we human’s are forcing it’s rhythm to change, we are pushing the natural world past it’s boundaries, what we inflict on ourselves we inflict on our environment and on each other as we witness large numbers of migrants moving around the world seeking out a place of safety.

A moving meditation brings so much joy to the body. It slows you down and connects your body and mind to nature. As I’m writing this I have covid for the first time. I noticed initially how my mind became overly active and anxiety crept in. I didn’t feel like moving very much but every now and again I would move my fingers very slowly and mindfully, feeling how that alone could awaken my hands, arms, shoulders and eventually the whole body. Don’t push it, just feel it and enjoy it.

”I like to move it, move it.”

If you are having difficulties with your movement at the moment why not consider registering for one of these chair yoga classes which I’ll be teaching for Mind Your Mate and Yourself starting in November. Click on this link to get more details for Chair Yoga. Scroll down to the event when you land on the page.

Or if you would like to join one of my Hatha and Somatic Yoga classes Click this link for details to keep moving safely.

Hari Om Tat Sat 🙏🙏🙏