Take It to the Mat

If we can view a movement/exercise session as an act that swiftly adjusts our mood, outlook, stress level, awareness, and resilience—akin to the way we understand that a shower is a means of immediately experiencing physical cleaning and refreshment—we may be more inclined to adopt movement/exercise as a regular part of our well-being hygiene. From this perspective, a movement session would not require much internal debate or coaxing as the inclusion of that behavior is unequivocally associated with a necessary, likely daily, act of self-care. We can further imagine that if we are having a more turbulent, stressful day for any reason, we might be more likely to positively anticipate and guide ourselves towards a movement session knowing the relief that it holds.

As a form of daily coping and care, we can “take it to the mat” whether the exercise session involves a mat or not. If you are participating in something like yoga that is performed on a mat, you can imagine the mat is an affirming spot on which you can lay down/release/depart from the strain of the day, allowing the movement of the body to become an implement of revitalization.  When we anticipate something good coming our way, we release dopamine, a feel-good neuromodulator, even before the experience occurs. We can actually start to experience our body’s uplifted chemical response in anticipation of our soon-to-be-experienced stress-relieving exercise session. Imagine enjoying the mood-enhancing dopamine hit while still on your way in the car to reach the “mat” (gym, park, sidewalk, bike path, swimming pool etc.).

The critical piece is that we become aware of and begin to view movement as a powerful act of revitalization and self-care—wherever that session will take place (mat or otherwise) becomes a space that we can imagine and anticipate will award us some physical and emotional rejuvenation.   After completing a movement session, it is similarly critical that we pause and fully experience and appreciate the good feelings that come—this will serve to highlight this connection between wellness and movement and draw you to it with anticipatory joy as you hopefully and willingly (and perhaps daily) repeat this pattern.