Make Movement Your Medicine (Part 2 of 8)
Unlock Your Body’s Healing Power: The First Step in the Circle of Self
This is the second post in my 8-part series on the Circle of Self. If you missed Part 1, check it out below.
“Emotion” comes from the Latin emovere — to move. Emotions are energies in motion. What happens when we stop moving?
A Story of Movement
I open my eyes most mornings with a weight in my chest — a hum of anxiety before the day even begins. For years, I tried to fight it with thoughts: organizing my day, reframing the worry, telling myself to calm down. But it wasn’t until I started a daily practice of movement — specifically yoga asana and breathwork — that something shifted.
The anxiety didn’t vanish, but it stopped building pressure. It moved. It flowed. It transformed.
Movement has always been part of my story, though not always in conscious or intentional ways. As a clinical therapist, I now see that the stagnation we feel — emotionally, mentally, spiritually — is so often tied to a lack of movement in our bodies and in our lives. And yet, movement doesn’t have to mean the gym or a 10-step workout routine.
It can be walking through your neighborhood. Dancing in your kitchen. Stretching between clients or meetings. Shaking off tension. Laughing. Breathing deeply.
When we move, we remember we are alive.
Journal Prompt
Think about your relationship to movement — past and present.
When do you feel most alive in your body?
What kind of movement brings you joy, energy, or release?
What type of movement are you craving right now?
Write freely. No judgment. Let the answers surprise you.
A Small Practice: 3-Minute Energy Flow
Take three minutes today to intentionally move your body and breath in a way that feels good — not productive, not performative. Just nourishing.
Try one of the following:
Stand up and gently shake out your arms, legs, and shoulders.
Put on a favorite song and let your body respond.
Do 3–5 yoga postures paired with breath.
Walk around your area, noticing the rhythm of your feet.
Try box breathing: Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat for a few cycles to move the breath in a calm and balanced way.
Want some guided support?
🎥 Follow this 3-minute movement video to get your energy flowing and grounded.
🎥 Follow with this powerful breathwork practice to invite clarity and ease.
Afterward, close your eyes for a moment. What shifted?
What’s Next
Next week, we’ll explore the second element of the Circle of Self: Stillness — the sacred space where breath slows, time softens, and presence deepens.
Movement and stillness are not opposites. They are partners. Both are essential.
Gentle Invitation
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This post is part of an 8-part series on the Circle of Self ~
Part 1: Intro to The Circle of Self