The Joy of Movement
Movement is Disappearing from Everyday Life
I couple of months ago I attended a wedding. It was an inspiring event, as most weddings are, albeit not quite my style (no dancing!). Regardless, looking back I think that me and my niece had the best time of all the guests. While others sat and talked, Mackenzie and I moved.
It began as Mackenzie showed all of us one of her favorite dance steps. To her amazement, I got up and replicated the move. Soon we were both turning and twirling, spinning on the floor and practicing the splits.
People laughed and paused their conversation to watch. But they all remained seated. The only one who dared join us was an 18-month old—the excitement of being able to walk and jump still new and invigorating to her.
Savor Movement to Rediscover Its Joys
I have learned to savor the privilege that I have to move so freely.
So many people seem to have lost the ability to move as a child does: running, jumping, climbing, sitting on the floor, squatting down low, or spinning in circles. Research tells us this has nothing to do with age. It has more to do with whether we choose to run, jump, climb, sit on the floor, squat, or spin in circles on a regular basis. It is the doing of these things which preserves our ability to do them.
We sometimes miss the joyfulness of youth, but how often are we willing to do those things that make us youthful? Early in my experience as a personal trainer I worked with a 90-year old who could not withhold her joy, a smile bursting from her lips as she jumped, both feet off the ground, for the first time in years.
Move It or Lose It!
With time, if we don’t engage life with these activities, they become more difficult. Something that was once so natural can become something that one has to train for months to achieve. Some people decide, “I’m too old for that,” and never do it again.
Experiences like sitting on the floor do not seem so wonderful or necessary until one day playing a game on hands and knees with a grandchild becomes a far away dream, or getting up from a fall becomes impossible without aid.
The old adage, “move it, or lose it!” is an inescapable reality of our physical lives. I am amazed at the abilities maintained by some of my adult ballet students. Some of the younger, newer ones are impressed by the older, more experienced students who are able to perform movements better than they do!
May we be healthy and strong by becoming as little children: moving often and in myriad ways. May we look for and engage in whatever physical activities that are currently available to us.
Our present abilities and conditions may very. If we have lost mobility, we can be dedicated to maintaining whatever we can still enjoy. With consistent effort, freedom of movement can improve, and increased joy will ensue. May we all make the effort to rediscover the joy of movement.
