5 Creative Mindful Movement Practices to Empower your Mind and Body

Take your wellbeing to the next level by engaging in mindful movement practices that will you empower you. As a society, we often like to live in our heads and forget about bodies until the muscle pain creeps up. 

As a Therapist who’s practice focuses on a mind/body/play approach, the body does indeed keep score. Movement is an everyday thing we all do unconsciously, but what if I told you that there are conscious ways to get into your body? Movement can support our wellbeing by regulating our nervous system. Movement can bring us out of stress responses in a positive way. 

Mindful Movement Practices can be enjoyable and simplistic. It can boost your attention, self-control and mindfulness. 

 Restorative Yoga 

Restorative yoga is one my personal movement practices to engage in, especially after a stress day. It deeply relaxes and your body and calms down your mind. I try to practice Restorative Yoga at least once a week. 

When practicing restorative yoga, you still stretch but you give yourself permission to deeply relax into the stretch. This enables us to activate the parasympathetic system - know as rest & digest. 

Restorative Yoga can boost your immune system, calm down your mind and deeply relax your body. 

Tai-Chi 

Tai-Chi is mindful movement practice originally originating from China, the practice can build up your balance, flexibility and strength. The practice encourages free-flowing movement, which is often graceful, circular and slow. It also encourages deep breathing. 

There are 3 principles of Tai-Chi which are movement control, structure, and internal components. These principles support you to integrate your mind and body, keep an upright posture and consciously and gently stretch your joints internally. 

Gaga 

I actually came across the Gaga dance whilst studying for my Undergraduate Degree in Dance and Professional Practice. It was originally devekioed by Ohad Naharin who is the Choreographer and Artistic Director of Batsheva Dance Company. Ohad discovered Gaga due to his curiosity around the body and its physical sensations. 

The format actually allows you to explore beyond your regular movement patterns. Through Gaga you can explore movement patterns and develop new ones. No one needs a dance background in order to join. 

Dancing

Dancing is another one of my personal favourites! As a Dance Movement Psychotherapist, facilitating that mind-body connection can support emotional regulation and improve cognition, as well increasing social awareness. 

Breathwork 

Breathing is an everyday movement we do. Breathing doesn’t have to be boring. It can be utilised to regulate feeling of anxiety and reset that rest and digest state. 

Weheartcbt.com has plethora of breathing exercises one can indulge to practice breathwork. 

Let me know if you’ve incorporated these mindful movement practices into your lifestyle.