I support moving from an exercise mindset to a movement mindset. It can be a subtle shift but it’s an important one.

Exercise vs. Movement

If we contrast their dictionary definitions, exercise is defined as “bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health or something done or performed as a means of practice or training” while movement is, “the act, process, or result of moving.” Exercise, therefore, is a means to an end while movement is a process and a goal in itself. All exercise is movement but all movement is not exercise. Examples of exercise might be taking a fitness class or training for a race. Movement can include gardening, walking, and taking dance breaks.

Why It Matters

I invite this shift for a couple of reasons. For those who have struggled with body image or compulsive exercise, this reframing can be critical. Movement (as much as we are able) is important for our well-being both physically and mentally. However, exercise is optional. It can be necessary to take a step back from structured exercise for a period of time or the long term to support physical and mental healing after too much exercise strain. Later, we can invite structured exercise back into our life (or not!).

Even if a client hasn’t struggled with body image or compulsive exercise, this new mindset can still be beneficial. There is a lot of pressure now to run marathons, join CrossFit gyms, and do other intense forms of exercise. These intense forms of movement are safe and healthy with the right mindset and a balanced lifestyle. The more intentionally one moves, the more intentional one also has to be about rest and recovery. However, not everyone has the space or desire in their life to devote so much time and energy to exercise and recovery. Or they may just not want to. And that is totally valid! Shifting from an exercise to movement mindset removes the guilt from these real and valid experiences.

A movement mindset can also help bring joy back into using our bodies. Diet culture has stolen much of the joy out of movement. People often think about calories being burned or their spot on a leaderboard with exercise instead of enjoying the activity itself.

My Experience

As a distance runner, I relate to and love supporting people who want to go after athletic goals. But, this is only if these forms of movement are something my client genuinely enjoys and finds satisfaction in. Being a marathoner isn’t inherently more health-promoting than being a hobby inline skater so the only reason to do marathons is if you sincerely want to. Life is too short to drag yourself through an activity you don’t like! And even athletes can benefit from more gentle movement throughout their days to support recovery from their hard efforts. The movement mindset helps me find joy in my structured training. Remembering that even my competitive pursuits as an athlete should be something that I have fun with have helped me avoid the burnout/injury cycle that plagued me as a high school and college runner. Not looking forward to my runs is usually a sign that I’m overdoing it. Taking a break from structured training is no longer stressful because I know a couple of days or weeks of moving intuitively is plenty to keep me healthy while also making me excited to return to training.