This is not a sponsored post, nor do I have any affiliation with the book or author.

It is no secret that I love movement, especially what I consider “mindful movement”. It brings me so much joy and feels freeing, like the worries and stress and chatter in my mind are gone and I am just in the moment, present. It also feels really good in my body, not only to get out of my head and into my body, but to do something good for it. It physically feels better, as well as mentally. 

This has not always been so for me. When I was a kid, I really, really did not enjoy sports or running or anything that involved a specific type of moving. I did, however, enjoy riding my bike for fun, dance classes, and even going to the gym with my parents to check out the cool machines and group exercise classes. 

It was this joy that stuck with me years later, as I started to incorporate more movement into my day, mostly for health reasons and prevention. 

When I was at my darkest times and hardest times, movement was always there and was something I turned to to help me through. 

It is what I left the field of Speech Therapy to pursue and to take on as my career, training in Yoga, mind-body fitness and teaching group fitness classes. And even to this day, teaching a class is one of the times I feel the lightest, most present, and absolutely most alive and connected. 

So I was super excited to find the book, “Joy of Movement” by Kelly McGonigal, PhD. Simply the title had me hooked, like I was understood. And then when I started reading, one of the first paragraphs felt like someone finally put into words what I felt when teaching and moving:

“In the nearly two decades, teaching has become a source of tremendous joy and meaning. Over the years, I saw again and again how movement could shift a persons’ mood. How it could send someone back into the world renewed with hope. I got to witness how exercise could empower participants to sense their own strength, or give them permission to let loose. As I taught individuals of all ages and varied physical abilities, I learned how movement could serve so many roles. It was a way to practice self-care, an opportunity to tackle challenges, and a place to make friends.”

This book covers the science, and personal stories, behind why movement is so beneficial for us as humans and how we evolved to move.

Kelly McGonigal is a research-based psychologist and author, and lecturer at Stanford University. She has also written a book called “The Upside of Stress” which, being in Stress Management Coaching, is on my must-read list. She is also a group fitness instructor and lover of movement. Her writing style, while based in research, is really about stpry-telling. This book, about the science behind movement and how it can improve your happiness, is less about stating the research, and more about exploring how  the research shows up in real life, for real people.

The Joy of Movement covers some of the physical benefits of movement, but focuses on the mental and emotional benefits received from movement. 

It is a fairly shorter read, with seven chapters and about 200 pages. I found it pretty easy to understand and follow (although, it did take me a bit longer than I anticipated, but that was due to interruptions from life and my young kiddos:) ). The seven chapters of this book break down different aspects of this, from the “runners’ high” to addiction to community to moving through pain. 

• Chapter 1 looks at the Runners’ High and the real purpose behind it – which is not just to enjoy running. It lpps back at human evolution and the chemical reaction in the brain
• Chapter 2 looks at addiction and how exercise has been shown to help in recovery, as well as how it has similarities to the addictions at the brain level, without the negative components. 
• In Chapter 3, we get to explore group fitness and community, and how these can help to build connections, keep you moving, but also keep you thriving. 
• Chapter 4 looks at how movement can be wired in the brain and can help in healing and in reducing the limitations of degenerative diseases, even if only for a moment. 
• Chapter 5 explores using movement to help with the obstacles that we face in life, and how it can help with mental and emotional growth, but also with pushing through physical obstacles that sometimes cause mental challenges, depression, etc. 
• Chapter 6 focuses on movement in nature and the deeper connection that can be felt from being in greenspace, moving and breathing, and how this shows up in brain functioning and mood. 
• The final chapter, 7, looks at ultra-endurance athletes and the ability for movement to change lives, as well as build deeper connections. 

The Joy of Movement  helps to explore the other side of movement that we often neglect or overlook – the pieces that can help us emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually, to thrive in our lives. It shares the stories of people, while also looking at the research, the science and explains how this is happening in the brain and body, as well as how we humans have evolved to move and to thrive from it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves movement, wants to move more, or is looking for a way to find more joy in their lives. 

As someone who often uses and coaches about Mindful Movement, this book helps solidify how truly important movement is for overall well-being. 

How do you love to move? Share it in the comment below!

Much Love, 

Jessi

PS Want some free resources to help you reduce stress through movement and meditation? Sign up for the free SLP Toolbox, and gain access to meditation and mindful movement audios.