Quarantine is serving up its fair share of Instagram-worthy home exercises. Nike Training Club and Peloton has offered free access to workouts previously hidden behind paywalls, celebrity yoga instructors stream live sessions, and it seems that most people I follow have joined the cult following of The Class by Taryn Mooney. The wealth of at-home exercises is amazing (and often offered for free, donation-based, or at a reduced cost), and I do think it’s very inspiring to see fitness professionals coming together to create accessible content that keeps our bodies engaged and minds occupied.
For those who have complicated relationship with exercise, though, this time in quarantine can heighten tangled feelings about working out — usually a combination of “I know I should exercise”, “I hate cardio”, “I’m just not in the mood (have you seen the news?!)” and ultimately “I must be lazy”. Tack on out society’s collective fear of weight gain and you might have the recipe for a very tortured afternoon of scrolling Youtube workout videos, finally settling on one that you do half-heartedly while watching the clock. This is not what we would call joyful movement.
So what is a better alternative? Joyful movement, as defined by the Intuitive Eating principles, is any movement that is empowering, FUN, and chosen based on how it makes your body feel – and not what physical outcome it might help your body achieve. Maybe it only lasts seven minutes in the form of a living room dance party, or it could be a two hour slow walk through your empty neighborhood. If you have children in your house, watch them for some pointers. You’ll see them leap, jump, dance, and shimmy at random. Their body feels called to move, and they respond!
I know it’s difficult to forget about the physiological benefits of exercise. Yes, calories are burned, muscle groups are strengthened, and you will feel more hungry afterward. If you find yourself having disordered thoughts about exercise (such as seeing it as a “transaction” for food), it might be best to take a short respite from working out until you can feel more secure and safe experiencing the joyful side of things.
Exercise is inherently mood-boosting, but the benefits are more greatly felt when activities are chosen out of a place of self-care and body respect. Remember, we are on the same team as our body! Rather than choosing activities to outright change your body, try choosing them based on what you think your body will really like. This isn’t meant to limit your choices. You could still be our running marathons, doing plank challenges, or cardio yoga. But the difference is that these will be exercises you look forward to, and you do out of love for your body – not punishment for eating dessert.
Now that we are in new circumstances, your definition of joyful movement may be changing. What I used to enjoy (in-person group classes!) aren’t available anymore. Now I’m finding that the type of movement that is most joyful for me is the one that gets me outside, hearing birds, and seeing flowers, so I’ve been choosing runs more often, and really liking them more. Your definition of joyful movement may change again and again, and I encourage you to follow those instincts, so that both your body and mind can reap all the rewards.