Reclaiming the Joy of Movement
If you’ve ever felt like exercise was something you had to do to earn your food, shrink your body, or “be good,” you’re not alone. For so many of us, movement became tangled up with guilt, shame, and pressure—when it could’ve been something that actually felt good.
What if we gave ourselves permission to move differently? Or not move at all sometimes?
What if we redefined movement as something that supports our well-being, sparks joy, builds connection, or simply feels fun?
Movement can take on a variety of forms:
Dancing in your kitchen
Chasing your kids at the park
Taking a slow walk and noticing the world around you
Stretching on the floor with your pet
Returning to a sport you used to love, without worrying about your pace or size
You don’t need to earn your rest, and you don’t need to suffer through a workout to be “healthy.” Your body is worthy of care and movement that feels good—not punishing.
Let’s Reflect: Take a moment to think about these questions:
What kind of movement did you love as a kid?
For me, it was spending hours at the barn riding and caring for horses. I never thought of it as exercise—but it absolutely was! I walked everywhere, lifted heavy things, mucked stalls... it was hard work and it brought me joy. Sadly, there were times I skipped the barn to force myself into a gym for “real” exercise. Guess which one I actually looked forward to and stuck with long-term? Yep—riding.
How do you want to feel during or after movement?
Personally, I love feeling strong and energized. I want to finish movement feeling ready to take on whatever life throws my way—which usually means chasing two young kids while wrangling my VERY large dog!
What’s one small way you can bring more joy or ease into movement this week?
Right now, I’m loving my solo walks with the dog. Don’t get me wrong—I adore walking with my kids too, but they’re still in the stage of inspecting every worm, ant, and flower. Those solo walks? They fill me up and give me space to breathe.
Looking for a Welcoming Community?
I’d love to invite you to Beyond Weight Loss: Food, Fitness, and Body Image Healing—a Facebook group I co-moderate alongside an incredible Health at Every Size®-aligned therapist and personal trainer. It’s a supportive space for folks healing from diet culture and finding freedom in food, movement, and body image.
We talk about things like joyful movement, intuitive eating, and making peace with our bodies—without shame, rules, or scales.
