I recently received an e-mail from a regular here at the studio. She comes in once a week and her program is a mix of Pilates, resistance bands, light weights, play based fitness and small circuits that we set up.

For the last few months I have encouraged Elizabeth to think about how she could fit in another movement session or 2 for herself at home. We had gone thorough variations of what it could look like. I shared some short videos to teach her ideas, and even wrote up a worksheet for her to follow.

She  was hesitant on doing anything at home because she’s never motivated enough to begin, let alone complete something on her own.

I understand that completely. This is why so many people like to be accountable for their exercise/workouts and ‘report’ somewhere.

Elizabeth always enjoyed walking. For a good 25 years she was an avid runner/walker, but some injuries changed the scenario and walking sort of lost its swirl.

I want to share with you the e-mail that she recently sent.  It addresses the inquiry that we always talked about, but that she never followed up with:

What kind of stuff can I do at home that’s not boring?

“I have so time before I have to go to church and my fingers are telling me to do some writing, so here I am.

I have become lax in my walking lately.

No real reason for this except that I get involved with other things and then I never go about walking.

When I do walk, I like to go out when the sun is shining so that I can get some Vitamin D.

My days of walking in the dark at the crack of dawn are not for me anymore.

So, this morning I have a lot of energy and went down the basement to do my stretches on the resistance bands.  Before I did them, I put on some sort of classical, nice music and I began to “move” my own way to the music, just like you've been encouraging me to do.

There's a vertical pole in the center of the basement, so I used that to do not only my stretching, but also to do some of my own “moves”.

I  recalled the “jitterbug” or “fast dance” from my day which involved all kinds of upper body stretches.  I slowed that down, but continued to do the moves with my arms, etc.

What a nice surprise!

I guess I will have to show you what I mean, but for someone my age (68) who is not as flexible as others, this made me feel great.

I worked up a sweat for 15 minutes and then went on to do the resistance bands that you gave me.

Although I didn’t spend a long time doing it, I feel better than if I had walked for an hour probably because I used all of my body in doing this.

Anyway, just thought I would share this with you with my ramblings.

It's all the same concept that you teach about getting up and moving.

However, this (the pole) gives one the availability of something to balance with while stretching, bending, moving, etc.”

So, there’s a short little story on a big movement breakthrough that someone experienced on their own.

There are many, many ways to move your body that have nothing to do with a structured workout.

If you can open your mind to a new experience you may be just as surprised as Elizabeth was in being present with what comes up.

I’m not sure if Elizabeth realized that some may look at that vertical pole reference and say “ah, Pole Dancing!”....but it didn’t matter, she was grooving.

Use what you have, use all of your body and make up your own moves.

You really can do that.

You’ll feel refreshed because you not only moved your physical body, but you opened the creative circuitry in your brain to put improvised moves together.

What a way to stay young!