How are your shoulders feeling right now? If I had to guess, I’d say you’ve been sitting at your desk a lot, focused on giving your clients and audience the best of what you do. You’ve been so immersed in that, perhaps you haven’t noticed the tension in your shoulders. Until now.
You Are Not at the Mercy of Your Body
Human bodies were made to move, and yet we spend so much of our day sitting or moving in ways that are habit-driven and fixed. This can keep us feeling trapped in tension and as though we’re at the mercy of our body.
We all know that when we feel tense and disconnected with our body, we’re not giving ourselves the chance to feel as well as we can, nor are we necessarily equipped to do our best work. You’ve heard it before but it never gets old – YOU are a vital asset in your business (and life), and when you feel well and move well it will be reflected in your work.
The Power of the Movement Snack
This is where mindful movement – intentional movement executed with kindness – can make all the difference.
Movement snacks are snack-sized bites of movement that get your body moving outside of those habit-driven and chained-to-the-computer ways that create tension in the first place. They are simple because simple is powerful.
If you think you need to set aside an hour to do it, or unroll a yoga mat, or find some stretchy pants before you begin, let me put your mind at ease — you don’t need any of that (unless you want to, of course). You simply need a moment to pause.
How To Snack on Movement
Simplicity is key. Think rolling your shoulders through their full range (up, forward, down, back), rotating your hips, ankles, wrists. You can grip your knees with your hands and flex your spine forward and back, then side to side. If you’re feeling more energetic, a few squats or standing lunges may get movement into just the right places.
The secret to the movement snack is to recognise the immense value in a short break. Often, we put off doing a yoga class or going to Pilates because we can’t figure out how to squeeze another hour out of our day. Movement snacks give us permission to take just 5 minutes (or even less) without any need for fancy clothing or equipment. It’s a gift you can give yourself with minimum fuss.
The Gift of Time
It’s widely recognised that taking time to pause often pays us back with increased focus and, consequently, the magic of ‘making time’. Movement snacks can have the same effect. When you pause to move and breathe, give yourself the gift of paying attention – really notice what it feels like and how your body responds.
You might think of it as a moving meditation of sorts – one that will influence your greatest asset in business – YOU.
