Move more, exercise less
I don’t about you but I don't have enough life experience … because it's not over yet! So I take actions that amplify my time here as much as possible.
But when injury strikes, it’s great (well not really but hear me out!) for realising what you take for granted in your daily movement life, and just how much you feel your need to get it back. Getting back your ability to do the basics so you can continue to amplify your time here should be all our jam: move more, exercise less.
As a society we do exercise very well, so well we can automate it to machines! Movement, on the other hand, the restorative, kinetic hygiene that restores function, articulates joints and cleans up our bodies means we can maintain an ability to move for a long time, we don’t do so well. So is movement yet another thing we need to add to our already overflowing schedules??
But wait, there’s more! Somewhere in late childhood-early adolescence we reach the point where we don’t want to try anymore, we’re either good at something or we’re not, boxing ourselves into decisions of what we’re capable of or not. And when it comes to learning physical tasks beyond these years, they cannot be learned intellectually - they have to be felt, learned through experience. You have to actually feel them in your body.
So now you not only gotta add yet more time for ‘movement’ workouts and ‘trying’ amidst all you’re already struggling to get done??? No!
Movement is an umbrella term exercise can fit under. I think we could expand its title to preventative movement intelligence, and its superpower is that it will always outperform reactive healthcare. It’s about seeking longevity and capability in all areas of your life. Your life experience.
Back to this injury (acl and then some!). It’s not my first rodeo learning to walk again! If you’ve been following me a while you know I had brain tumor surgery and ran the nyc marathon a year to the day later. I know what it feels like to lose your ability to walk and care for yourself, how important your people around you are first and foremost, and that getting back your basics is your biggest superpower. And this acl injury feels longer and harder if you can believe that!
But something that seems impossible amidst injury - like my son’s pullup challenge (he got 5 in a row by the end of a month, and I got 10!), then the Deadhang challenge (we’re both over 2min now), and now running training for a local 5km next month - something that seems impossible suddenly becomes possible! I so much want people to realise that:
You have everything you need right now to just start
Meeting your body where it’s at is a benchmarking spot of genius
And most of all, as you get older you can get stronger
A movement practice isn’t yet another thing to add into your schedule nor is the requisite trying this new thing. It’s the fitness you’ve had all along. “Exercise is a human invention necessary because modern life restricts natural movement” (Dr. Andreo Spina). Movement is an internal and external long life practice where you can become resilient, adapt and evolve with changing seasons of your life, and continue to be confident and trust yourself. It’s about replacing your default setting so you’re able to consider other possibilities all adding up to an amplified life experience.
