Motion Is Lotion

I’m not sure if I mentioned I’m seeing a physio therapist to treat my neck and hip.  I fell a couple of years ago and lost strength in my glute.  

One of her mantras is “motion is lotion.” Initially I was not allowed to do strength routines and was focussed on stretching - I needed to loosen the muscles that were restricting my mobility before I could go back to strengthening them.  

Fast forward to now - I’m slowly adding strength based moves back into my routine.  (Read: I’m doing lunges and squats with light weights).

Insert pain and discomfort here. 

Instead of dialing back movement, I’m leaning into movement (pun intended).

To be clear - I’m listening to my body and I know I’m engaging muscles that haven’t been engaging because others have been carrying the load … Instead of stopping and telling myself “I need time to heal” … I’m moving. 

Motion is lotion. 

I’m stretching the muscles that are tightening as a result of being engaged.  I’m paying attention to form to ensure I’m working the muscle I want to work. I’m being consistent.  

I’m going slow. Deliberately. I can feel the muscles engaging.  I know it preferred lazy over active and it’s grumpy and throwing a tantrum. I talk to it.  Quietly encouraging it … I know you can do this … You’re strong … You’re healthy … You’re mobile … You’re healing … I’m strong … I’m healthy … I’m mobile.  

Movement is necessary.  It keeps my joints healthy.  It keeps me strong.  It keeps me mobile.  

I have a choice.  Stop and begin the cycle again because the discomfort is uncomfortable, or find a way to move, to strengthen, to rebuild my flexibility through the joint.  

I’m choosing the latter. 

I can do hard things. I can push through discomfort.  

I get migraines - this is not even in the same category of pain.  This is aching, throbbing, uncomfortable. I can do this.  

When I’m out and about I watch people … see their physical limitations, hear them blame their age … I don’t want to make those choices. 

This isn’t coming from a place of judgement - I don’t know their stories.  I do know mine.  

I don’t want age to be an excuse for not doing what I want to do … I don’t want to say “I’m old” … I’m not. I want the choices I make today to allow me to keep living the life I want up until I’m done living it.  

I’m also visual … the pictures in front of me, in my head … they help reinforce my why. 

So when I want to quit … I’ve discovered one of my new mantras, I’ve stolen from my physio therapist … motion is lotion.  

So I breathe.  I move and when necessary, I adapt.

I’m learning that flexibility can be a mindset.  Not just being open to new ideas, things etc.  but also in how I respond to life as it's happening.  Sometimes I need to stop - be still … Draw a line … Set boundaries … Say no … Sometimes the line doesn’t need to be so rigid - it can move, it can bend. 

I realize this is probably an obvious thing to most people … it isn’t to me. If I knew it once, I unlearned it somewhere, so I’m relearning it now. 

Motion and stillness … two sides of the same coin … Necessary, healing.  Both keep us strong, healthy, and resilient. 

Balance is a funny thing … It’s pulling in what you need when you need it … Listening to what your body, your mind, your soul need and finding ways to nourish them … Even if it’s hard, even if it hurts. 

This life really is a work in progress … The art of becoming. 

I’m becoming someone who moves … Who is strong, healthy, and mobile. Someone who chooses motion.