When I first started going to the gym in college, there was nothing intuitive about my exercise. I was used to moving my body at cheerleading practice and dance class, which were two things I loved. I’ve always enjoyed movement, and I knew that I needed to exercise to help combat my anxiety and the freshman loneliness I was experiencing.
I went to the gym 6/7 days a week and did the same workout everyday. I ran 2-3 miles on the treadmill, would do about five minutes of arms with five lb. dumbbells and five to ten minutes of abs. There was essentially zero variation in my workout routine and even though I usually felt better after going, I never thought it wasn’t fun. I didn’t know what I was doing and I was getting shin splints from my treadmill runs. The only time I ever diverged from this plan was when it was raining/freezing and I did a pilates dance DVD in my dorm…don’t ask lol.
Thankfully, I discovered yoga my sophomore year. I felt like I found the secret, finally finding an exercise that made me as happy as dance and cheerleading did in high school. More on that journey here. As I got immersed in the yoga community, I eventually began to learn more about different types of exercise that people were doing to complement their practice and gain strength such as HIIT, barre and strength training.
I began adding some different types of exercise into my routine to ensure that I was keeping up my cardio endurance and countering all the flexibility I was gaining through yoga by strength training. When I started yoga teacher training, I was doing TONS of yoga for about nine months. It’s a unique and immersive experience, but it made me begin to doubt if I was a “good yogi” because somedays I chose other types of exercise over yoga. Face palm. I now understand that yoga is so much more than the physical postures and I practice it everyday regardless if I step on my mat or not.
I’ve gotten to a very healthy place with my exercise routine because I have let go of what I think I “should be” doing and do whatever brings me joy that day. I don’t exercise for “maximum results,” whatever that is, I exercise to feel GOOD in my body. Intuitive exercise is simply moving in a way that brings you joy. Sometimes, like this week, that’s simply looked like yoga everyday. I’ve also gone through phases where I really enjoy lifting weights, barre or other types of classes. Our lives aren’t constant so don’t expect what type of exercise that best supports you at that time to be. Give yourself grace and explore what your body needs at that time.
You may be wondering, so how do you put it into practice? I like to give my body the option to decide what it wants to do each day. Somedays I have a ton of energy and crave an intense power yoga class or HIIT, and other days I may be sore or exhausted so I opt for restorative yoga or a walk.
Since I’m busy like most folks, I look at my calendar for the day ahead and decide when the best time to exercise is. I’ll scroll through the yoga studio schedule and see if there’s a class that fits that time, and note it so I can attend that if that’s what I’m in the mood for. When the day comes, I ask myself what will bring me joy, and I’ll lace up my shoes for a run, hit the gym or go to yoga, depending on what I need.
Some folks find intuitive exercise challenging because they feel that if they don’t book a class in advance, they won’t go. Other folks are training for a race/event and follow a certain regimen. You do you. I think the most important thing to take away from intuitive exercise is tuning into how the body is feeling and discovering how you can best support it. It’s moving in a certain way because you want to, not because you feel like you have to or because everyone else is doing it. It’s also honoring your body and knowing when to give it rest and slow down. Our body and muscles need rest to recover — honor that.
Maybe you’ve been thinking, I seriously hate exercise. What type of exercise have you been doing? Are you trying to force yourself to be a runner because your best friend is, or that girl you follow on Instagram loves it? If it doesn’t bring you joy, simply don’t do it. Try out classes and online videos (there’s so much free stuff on YouTube) until you find something that YOU like. When you practice intuitive exercise, you’re more likely to exercise because you’re doing what you enjoy. And vice versa, you’re more likely to skip out on a workout that you don’t enjoy. Empower yourself to make the best decision for you.
In my opinion, forget trying to find the perfect exercise equation that will make you “X,” (whatever ideal you’re chasing) and let go of the strict rules you’ve imposed on your routine. Listen to your body. Move your body like you love it.
Do you practice intuitive exercise?
What exercise brings you the most joy?
– Morgan