Movement is Medicine... Or Is It?

Tiptoeing the fine line between a healthy habit becoming a dangerous obsession

‘Movement is medicine’ has become somewhat of a buzz phrase. In the age of overabundant fitness content, it seems hearing those words can’t be escaped and while for the most part there is good intention behind it, I can’t help but feel there’s slight irony when we are faced relentlessly with content making us feel guilty we aren’t doing more, better or even enough.

That being said, I have a role to play here. I create fitness content online, I have used this term and therefore I am part of the problem. I genuinely and wholeheartedly believe that indeed movement is medicine in many ways:

• Physical medicine. Reducing the risk of chronic diseases, increasing longevity and of course improving day to day lifestyle factors such as sleep, mood and energy to name just a minuscule amount of the benefits.

• Mental medicine. For many people it’s like their form of therapy and with so many benefits to your mental health, movement is a brilliant tool for reducing stress and helping those struggling with depression or anxiety.

• Soul medicine. Whether it’s outdoors in nature alone, or training within a group environment there is something about moving your body that is magical. Dancing with friends and laughing until your stomach hurts or summiting a mountain and seeing what you’re truly capable, these are the things that light you up from within.

So, you get it. The benefits of regular physical activity are undeniable and therefore, yes, movement really is medicine. So much so that the theme of Mental Health Awareness Month 2024 is movement for the mind… how fitting!

When self care becomes self harm?

What can begin as embracing movement as a healthful habit can sometimes quickly spiral into an unhealthy obsession. I’ve been there and it’s something I still have to constantly monitor because I know how hard it can be to climb out of what feels like an all consuming blackhole.

If you haven’t experienced it then you may be thinking ‘what’s so bad about a little extra exercise?’ Well, it can quickly become all consuming, negatively influencing your actions, life and mental health:

• Physical risks. Overtraining is probably the holistic definition for what inherently can be problematic when it comes to exercise becoming an unhealthy necessity in your schedule. Feeling the impulsion or need to exercise and forgoing that all important rest can lead to decreased performance and increased risk of injury at best or fatigue and burnout at worst both physically and mentally.

• Mental risks. Obsessively thinking about exercising, performance goals and body image is a treadmill sprint session towards increased anxiety, quickly reversing the original benefits of moving more. And while we are talking about body image, overtraining can foster an unhealthy relationship between food, training and aesthetics. All of this can lead to social isolation, where the desire to exercise and for your routines can lead to social withdrawal, avoiding certain situations which will take you away from your routines.

Can a balance be restored?

If any of this sounds familiar, I get it. You’re by no means alone and although it feels near impossible to break away from, all is not lost. Here are just a few of the things you can do to get yourself back on your way to balance.

• If you find yourself using phrases like I ‘need’ or ‘have’ to exercise resist actioning these thoughts. Instead actively challenge the impulsion to do so and start building the trust that nothing bad will happen if you don’t follow the routine.

• Take some time off. If exercise is associated with negative emotions such a guilt, stress or frustration then take some time off (as hard as it is) to break the cycle.

• List the benefits of exercise and movement that have nothing to do with burning calories or earning food. There are sooo many reasons so write them down and explore why they are important to you specifically.

• Practice self compassion. Being kind to yourself, especially during setbacks or times you don’t think you’re doing enough is hard to learn but ultimately is the root cause of many of these feelings to begin with. Use kind words when speaking to yourself and try to be understanding and patient with your feelings. The process is definitely not linear but keep going and after a sustained effort it will become more natural.

• Change it up! Try new forms of movements and be open minded to anything and everything. Keep trying different things until you find something that you genuinely love doing regardless of the longterm outcome.

• Look inwards and explore the root cause for the feelings you are experiencing. Are they self limiting beliefs and if so do you have evidence to show they aren’t true?

• Be mindful of what you are consuming… mentally, not physically. Comparing yourself to others may be affecting you sub consciously and it may be time for a social media audit or assessing where you are spending most of your time (or who with).

• Stop tracking your workouts and calories. I know it sounds scary but approach it with a mindset that it will be a temporary thing. This helps to foster an environment where movement doesn’t necessarily have a specific goal attached to it.

• Speak to a professional. Psychologists and therapists can help you explore and work on the underlying reasons for these feelings. Ultimately, until you start working on these the chances are everything else is just a band aid on the deeper issue. If a therapist isn’t available to you, can you speak to a trusted friend, acquaintance or family member? As they say a problem shared is a problem halved (in the right circumstances).

It’s all about balance

As I said, I truly believe movement is a form of medicine in so many ways. I love moving my body in as many ways as possible and actively encourage everyone to do the same… after all it brings people together, is inherently good for your overall health and most importantly fun! However, all medicine can become harmful in the wrong doses so it’s all about our favourite terms ‘balance’ and ‘moderation’.

So hit the trails, get upside down, sign up to that new gym class and play on those monkey bars but remember sitting on the sofa watching trashy tv and going out for dinner with friends has just as much of a place in a healthy lifestyle as exercise does!