May 27

May 27 What Counts as Movement? (Hint: It’s More Than the Gym)

If the word exercise makes you feel instantly tired or judged, this post is for you.

Maybe you’re not a “gym person.” Maybe your yoga mat is gathering dust. Maybe you’re in a season where even walking around the block feels like a big deal. That’s okay. You’re not doing it wrong.

Movement doesn’t have to be about performance. It doesn’t even have to be about fitness.

Movement can be about feeling better. About reconnecting with yourself. About shifting your mood, easing your stress, or making space for something new to emerge.

Here are 10 kinds of movement that count — for your mental health, your emotional wellbeing, and your connection to your body.

1. Walking (Without a Step Goal)

Whether it’s a loop around the block or a lap of your living room, walking helps us process thoughts, reset nervous systems, and regulate emotions. You don’t need a Fitbit to feel the benefits.

2. Dancing in the Kitchen

Spontaneous dancing — even just a microbop while waiting for the kettle — releases endorphins and activates joy. Bonus points for music you loved as a teen.

3. Stretching Like a Cat

You know how cats stretch without guilt or agenda? Try that. No fancy sequence needed — just listen to where your body wants length, space, or breath.

4. Housework as Movement

Yes, vacuuming counts. So does gardening, scrubbing, rearranging. These everyday movements often offer rhythm and release, especially when paired with a good playlist.

5. Breathwork or Intentional Breathing

Not all movement is big. Breathing deeply and consciously moves the diaphragm, signals safety to your nervous system, and can dramatically change how you feel — in just a few minutes.

6. Playing With Kids (or Pets)

Chasing a toddler. Running with a dog. Even just sitting on the floor and reaching for toys or rolling a ball. This kind of unstructured play can be more effective for wellbeing than any structured workout.

7. Cold Showers or Warm Baths

Both are sensory experiences that stimulate the vagus nerve — a key player in nervous system regulation. (And yes, standing in a cold shower does count as movement.)

8. Embodied Practices Like Qigong or Yoga

These practices help us slow down and actually feel what’s happening in our bodies. They're less about performance and more about presence.

9. Micro-Adventures

A walk in a new neighbourhood. Climbing a hill you’ve never noticed. Paddleboarding on a Sunday morning. These small shifts in scenery and sensation can wake up body and spirit alike.