The practice of conscious movement

In our fourth column in the series of reimagining a conscious future, Sumaya Dalmia – fitness expert and founder, SUMAYA speaks about the growing awareness about conscious movement that’s mindful, controlled and well-articulated in BeejLiving 

Over the past decade we have seen a shift of behaviour towards self-care and preservation. We are all trying to adopt a more holistic approach to our well-being. This shift is fuelled in part by self-awareness along with an overload of wellness and medical information.

Longevity, nutrition, alternative healing, the list goes on. There is also an increasing need to push the human body’s endurance and strength to the next level. In an attempt to portray a certain level of fitness, to instantly transform or to be “insta-fit” and trendy, we are exposing ourselves to an increased risk of injury, as the body is not foundationally strong. And that is why there is a resounding energy behind the practice of conscious movement. 

A new fitness mantra

Conscious movement, with a focus on mindful, controlled and well-articulated exercise movements is a methodology that is a growing school of thought in the fitness fraternity globally and something I have practiced for many years. This type of fitness practice is a process that delivers deep muscle control and strength. There is a misconception that the practice of mindful movement is only applicable while doing yoga, Pilates or certain kinds of slower, intense body workouts, but ideally this consciousness should be part of our daily fitness routines. 

Conscious movement is movement that promotes a strong mind and body connect. This in turn promotes a strong awareness of the body. Precision is key here. Rather than throwing yourself into something full-throttle, conscious fitness encourages precise movements that put form and quality over quantity.

The very basics of form and posture are of utmost importance and are often ignored. This happens especially with the recent trends of CrossFit & HIIT which expose the body to a strong risk of injury. Strong form and controlled moves result in improved body mechanics, which in turn reduces the body’s risk to injury.

Core awareness

Overall, this isn’t a new concept, even programs like CrossFit have been developed on strong foundations of stability, mobility, flexibility and core control. Even the most ancient forms of martial arts, tai chi, yoga, all focus on a meditative, mindful practice. One that focuses on being aware of how the whole body works together, how the core is the centre of our system, of using the power of our minds to channelise our energies to our muscles.

Conscious movement has for this reason been found to have direct effects on one’s mental wellbeing and can help reduce stress and calm the mind. Meditation like concentration, combined with the right breathing technique, accelerates the muscle burn, allows you to connect with your body and live in the moment. A perfect example of this is any core workout, where you will see the most effective results if you are more conscious. 

There is a common misconception, that the key to weight loss is a fast paced, intense workout. But these intense routines often lead to severe and chronic injuries. Fitness instructors and experts around the world are seeing students burning out on the gym floor because they push themselves too far, do not allow their bodies to recover, and their foundations aren’t strong.

Quality over intensity

Conscious movement encourages one to listen to one’s body. Understand what works for you and what doesn’t. Some days you need an energising, high-intensity workout. While on others you may need a calmer, more centring experience. The focus and quality of your workout is more important than the quantity.

I always advise that even 20-minutes a day of focussed, quality training will give you effective, long term results. Rather than a stressed out 60-minute workout 7 days a week. Over training, consecutive HIIT sessions without adequate recovery in fact raises your stress hormone and cortisol levels and may even interfere with sleep cycles. Intense HIIT sessions performed with controlled well-articulated moves, but shorter in duration actually give better and safe long-lasting results.

Strengthening connections

In the age of the pandemic, I firmly believe that conscious fitness is the mantra to a less stressful life. Our body and mind are interconnected. But with our fast-paced lives and modern entrapments, we have all become disconnected and disjointed. There is a need for integration of our spiritual, mental and physical states. This can be achieved through a mindful fitness practice. 

Mental health in particular has taken a place in the forefront, as the world becomes insular and socially isolated against the pandemic. Mindful practices can help us achieve a better quality of life. And once we understand the mechanics of our bodies, we can carry forward this awareness to our everyday life.