Movement is a Gift: Why Staying Active is the Best Present You Can Give Yourself
4 minute read
The holiday season often comes with the hustle and bustle of gift-giving—what should we get for Cousin Joey or Aunt Julie? While we focus so much on giving to others, we often forget about giving something valuable to ourselves
This year, consider giving yourself a gift that will last a lifetime: the gift of movement. It’s a simple yet powerful way to improve your health, reduce stress, and boost your well-being
I’m not suggesting you brave the cold for a 10-mile run on Christmas morning, But maybe consider just giving yourself 20 minutes to do a quick circuit of bodyweight movements in your bedroom before you start your day with your family and friends. Or maybe it is just stretching for 10 minutes before bed after a long day of celebrating.
Daily movement releases endorphins which are your happy hormones. So when you are feeling stressed during the holidays, even just 10 minutes of stretching can help calm you and put you into a better mood! When holiday stress starts creeping in….whether it’s during a lively family debate or a packed schedule, take a quick movement break. Just 10 squats or push-ups can reset your mood and leave you feeling refreshed.
This is my favorite ANYWHERE workout (I’ve literally done this in the bathroom!) I do 45sec work/15sec rest you can do as many or as few rounds as you like. I usually do 5-8 depending on my time restraints. I do side lunges to each side. Then a plank. Then total body extensions. But seriously this can be any combination for movements you want to do!
If you are limited in your movement use a chair and do modified squats. Or use the chair for balance as you do the side lunges. Or use the chair to help with a Single leg Deadlift. Do Pushups insteads of planks. If pushups on the floor are too hard do them against the wall, or counter, or sink!
If you can start to make the effort of some sort of movement during the holiday, it makes it that much easier to continue to move throughout the year! But if you can commit just 10 minutes a day through the holidays, you will be on your way to starting 2025 heading in the right direction.
We need to stop looking at exercise as a chore but as a gift! What your body allows you do to!
Now if you are suffering from pain, think about it this way…..what can I do that is pain free? And focus on that! Do the things that you CAN do and move forward from there! Sir Isaac Newton stated(smart guy) said a body in motion stays in motion. It is a lot easier to continue to move once you start to move!
Especially as we age we have the tendency to move less….this is where we get into trouble. If you want to be an active independent adult, being able to move and care for yourself is essential! Again, not saying you need to go run marathons, just make a concerted effort to add some extra movement into your life. Even if that means walking to a bathroom that is further away from your desk at work just to get more steps in….it all adds up!
This holiday season, choose a gift that will keep giving long after the celebrations are over—the gift of movement. By prioritizing your health today, you’re setting yourself up for a stronger, happier, and more active 2025
Ready to start your journey toward better movement and less pain? Let’s work together! I would love to ba a part of this journey with you! Schedule a FREE Discovery call and let’s discuss how I can help you move better and feel better in 2025!