Seven Benefits To An At-Home Movement Routine
The world seems to be stuck in a limbo between full on lockdown and complete normalcy, whatever that may mean. In the beginning of the pandemic, working out from home, or outside, was likely your only option. Now, as things continue to open up, you may feel conflicted about returning to training at a big-name gym or boutique studio. There are benefits to leaving your home as part of your movement routine. You get a change of scenery, potentially more space, more equipment variety, and a chance to connect with people. However, depending on where you are in your relationship to your body and movement, and how comfortable you feel out in public spaces with lingering Covid uncertainty, those things may not be a priority, or, they may even add more stress and anxiety to the experience.
I have chosen to almost exclusively offer online coaching and training. I feel strongly, through my extensive experience training clients online, that it is possible to create a fun and safe environment that fosters trust, rapport, and success. A lot of people new to fitness or returning to intentional movement prefer online sessions because there are fewer barriers to entry and a lot of positive benefits, including these seven below:
You can choose whether or not you want to wear shoes. Sometimes moving in socks or bare feet can help you feel more grounded and facilitate increased body awareness.
Your home is (hopefully) a safe environment where you feel the most comfortable exploring your relationship to movement and your body.
You don’t have to worry about adding on time to commute to the gym. You can literally be ready to move in less than 10 minutes and be back to work in the same amount of time.
You are in control of your environment, including temperature, lighting, music, etc. Being able to adjust your environment can go a long way in making the movement experience more enjoyable.
At home, you have the privacy to process and/or discuss with your coach any challenging emotions as they arise, when it comes to movement, mindset, and body image.
You can go at your own pace and are less likely to compare yourself to others and feel pressure to keep up or go beyond what’s comfortable for you.
You have increased time flexibility and can workout on your own schedule without having to worry about when gyms and classes are extra busy or quiet.
There are advantages to movement in gyms/studios and movement at home. And, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. That is what is so great about intuitive movement—you can check-in with yourself (and your coach) to assess which movement options feel best in the moment or for that day.
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If it feels challenging to engage with movement right now, or it has felt difficult in the past, finding ways to move at home may be a great fit for you. If you like the idea of having a coach who can guide and empower you on this journey, feel free to schedule a free discovery call to learn more about the different ways we can work together.
