Dear, Women’s Journal Readers,
Have you ever heard of mindful movement? It’s like exercise, but so much better. As you can see, biking is one of my favorites! It’s closely followed by mindful walking.
Unfortunately, some of my clients cringe at the word exercise. In the diet culture world, exercise is not fun or enjoyable. It’s done to burn calories and work up a sweat.
INSTEAD…Mindful movement is a form of movement that combines physical activity with mindfulness practices. It involves paying attention to the present moment, your body and your breathing while engaging in physical movement. This approach to exercise has been shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits.
It’s NOT Competitive or Goal Oriented.
It’s about listening to your body (when to rest & what feels good) It links your body & mind
It encourages you to be present & use you senses
It helps reduce stress & anxiety.
So when I ride my bike, I’m not going to think about the 100 things on my to-do list. I’m going to ride slowly, enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face, wave to people I pass, smell the leaves on the trail and be truly mentally and physically present.
Wishing you a mindful & meaningful day,
Dr. Susan Albers
Like information like this, sign-up for Dr. Albers E-newsletter at www.eatingmindfully.com
