Movement Mindset

This post is by Shaina R. Weisgerber.

Over the years I have had a love/hate relationship with “move time”. Moving your body, health, exercise, wellness, and nutrition are all subjects I didn’t learn about through a Biblical lens. I was well into my thirties before I began to make the connection between my walk with Christ and my morning walk.  The more I learn about moving my body the more I realize just how connected the spiritual is to the physical. 

Moving our bodies can present a level of pressure to us at times. We see moving our body as a way to get skinny or stay skinny. We can associate moving our bodies with what we are lacking as a person and therefore it is hard for us to keep a positive outlook or mindset towards exercise. Sometimes in life we experience injury or illness which sets our move goals completely out of the picture for a while. 

Being able to create a positive mindset towards moving our bodies is key to beginning and keeping any movement routine. Remember that creating and keeping a positive mindset towards movement means we will need to stay flexible. Staying flexible with circumstances, although flexibility can certainly be a goal with move time.

Here are a few tips to help keep a healthy mindset towards movement. 

1. Change with the seasons. Change up your routine with the coming and going of the seasons. I tend to stick to the gym or indoor workouts when the weather is either extreme heat or extreme cold. When the weather is nice, I like to keep my walks, jogs or other forms of activity outdoors! 
2. Mix it up! Routine is good, and if that is what keeps you consistent, then by all means, keep your routine! Sometimes it is nice to mix it up though! Like our meal plan each month, maybe you have themed days for movement! Think about doing Mindset Monday with yoga or stretching. Tuesdays might be cardio with a walk or jog. Wednesdays could be Weightlifting, Thursdays for a group class and Fridays for a fun activity with friends. You get what I’m saying! If you have access to multiple options, utilize them! It can really help keep your mindset in the right place and can help avoid burnout and boredom! 
3. Ask for help! I know, we tend to want to keep to ourselves, have our own way of doing things, and think we can manage on our own. Sometimes though, we might find that asking for help, insight, or ideas when it comes to our movement game might actually be the missing link to creating or maintaining movement routines. Whether you ask someone at your gym, a friend, colleague, or hop on the Hello Mornings Academy and ask the group, you can find great help and resources to aid in your movement journey! 
4. Think long term not short term. This is one that I struggle with, but I know it is the most beneficial for me. When I think about short term weight loss, muscle development, flexibility or stamina I will more than likely get very frustrated. I tend to quit easier and have a poor attitude when I think I will see immediate results. Think about how each time you move your body you are loving for and caring for your body, not for a certain kind of result, but for long term care. Set aside the short term goal/idea in your head and remember that you’re doing an amazing job every time you choose to move your body! 

I hope these few things have helped give you some encouragement today. Wherever you find yourself today, you are right where God wants you to be. You’re not behind, you’re not too late. You are right where you need to be to begin a new routine, create a new mindset, and allow God to do what only HE can do in and through you. Blessings on your journey!

Shaina is a native Texan based in the Panhandle. She and her husband Nick have two daughters, love to lead worship together, spend time “doing nothing” together, and serving in the local church together. They have been married for 16 years and still don’t know what they want to do when they grow up. Shaina has a degree in Graphic Design, was a full time worship pastor, is a florist, and enjoys anything creative! You can read more and join the community over at Sycamore & Sparrow www.sycamoreandsparrow.wordpress.com/blog or follow her on Instagram at Sycamoreandsparrow

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash