Move Well, Feel Well

How movement can make you feel physically, emotionally & energetically good!

This morning, I woke up feeling anxious—almost scared. There was no obvious reason, but my mind didn’t care—it went straight to work, digging up every possible explanation. And, of course, it found plenty: life, death, work, relationships, money, aging, loneliness… and death again, just for good measure. A perfect storm of thoughts, each one adding to the weight of that uneasy feeling. A classic cycle of—emotions triggering thoughts, thoughts fuelling emotions.

Luckily, I caught it before it spiralled out of control. I managed to nip it in the bud, reset, got out of bed, and on with my day.

This is something I’ve dealt with before—a familiar habit I’m still learning to shift. But the difference now? It doesn’t consume me the way it used to. I understand what’s happening, and I know how to move through it.

I mentioned this restless awakening to the Yoga class I was teaching today, and in talking about it, I was reminded (again) how & why a conscious movement practice like Yoga or Qigong can offer many tools to deal with these situations.

I explained to my students: Emotions are really just energy in motion. When that energy rises up in a way that feels uncomfortable, we tend to label it—calling it fear, anxiety, stress, etc. And once we name it, the mind jumps in, searching for reasons to justify why we feel this way.

But here’s the thing: the body isn’t just a meat suit. It’s a living, flowing system of energy.

The energy that animates our bodies moves through meridians, fascia & blood, & if it encounters a blockage it can get trapped & stagnate or re-routs its self & becomes a nuisance in another part of the body.

These blockages can be caused by stress, trauma, diet, lack of movement, or something else. Over time, those blockages can lead to physical tension, emotional distress, or even bigger health issues.

That’s where conscious movement comes in.

Practices like Yoga and Qigong give us tools to take care of ourselves.

• We learn to check in with how we feel.
• We practice breathing deeply to settle the nervous system.
• We use breath and awareness to release tension.
• We MOVE to strengthen the body, improve circulation, and clear out stagnant energy.
• And, If practiced often enough these tools become skills that can introduce you to even deeper aspects of yourself

With practice these tools that we learn through conscious movement & observation become second nature—helping us shift stuck energy and emotions before they take over.

So, in a nutshell: Movement is medicine—without the dodgy side effects.

I invite you to embrace a sense of curiosity about how you feel. Take a moment each day, throughout your day, to check in with yourself. Notice what’s going on, and gently adjust & MOVE the things that need attention—whether it’s your environment, your mindset, or your actions—to help you feel better, or at least a little more at ease.

If you want to MOVE but need a little help in getting there don’t hesitate to get in contact ☺︎

A little tip: If you wake up feeling anxious, instead of trying to explain it away, pause and just feel it. Notice the energy without labelling it or attaching a story to it. It might shift, expand, dissolve, or even come out as tears—and that’s okay. The key is to let it MOVE through you, and not to get stuck in your thoughts.

Below you will see the stick-man version of my Yoga class for ‘Emotional balance & grounding’. The practice works on calming the nervous-system with gentle but deep breathing. Mind & body awareness, none judgmental observation & adjustment. The opening of the heart & pelvis with a little loving stretch of the Psoas muscle & meridians of the Kidneys/Bladder, Stomach/Spleen, Heart & Lungs to release tension & stagnation which can hold negative emotional energy like fear & sadness.