Last week, I had a meeting with some neighbors about the kidnappings in our area, what’s been happening in LA, Portland, and Chicago, and the need to buckle down and prepare for things to get worse here in New York.
I won’t go into too much detail because — obviously — these issues are sensitive and tricky. But I left the meeting feeling so overwhelmed and anxious. I felt so small.
And then I came home to get to work on…preparing Sunday’s Workout of the Week. The cognitive dissonance? Is that the term? Context shifting? Whatever it was, it was jarring. I’d spent the morning focusing on a serious threat to the safety of some of my most vulnerable neighbors, and then I sat in my cozy house and put together a little fitness routine.
Like most of us, I’m someone who likes to believe that my work matters in the world, but in this moment, when everything feels so scary and serious, I have moments of wondering whether exercise really means anything. Of course I know it’s good for you, and physical and mental health are important, but it still feels so silly at times. Even when it comes to the health benefits: Exercise is such an individual action, and one that relies in many ways on privilege, when in the real world, systems and social determinants of health matter so much more.
I don’t have to tell you why this is dangerous — RFK Jr. and his gaggle of ghouls are letting you know every day, with their distracting focus on things like food dyes, Tylenol, and the Presidential Fitness Test (which I, along with many of you, probably, credit with at least 50% of my hatred of exercise during my formative years) instead of ensuring people have access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, lifesaving vaccines, and other important protections against diseases of all sorts.
So am I part of that problem? And: Am I talking in an echo chamber to privileged people about an activity that may improve their individual wellbeing but means very little to the world at large?
Anyway, I got a little down, you guys! Very “What was I made for” vibes. So I turned to you, my How to Move community, for help.
I asked: “I’m working on a post about why things like exercise matter in a world where rights are being stripped away, neighbors are being kidnapped, trans friends are considering (or actually) leaving the country because it’s not safe. How does movement fit in for you in this moment, when everything seems so scary and out of control? Would love to hear how you’re grappling with this, if you are.”
Ahead you’ll find what some of you shared.
Before I get into it: Your evergreen reminder that exercise is not a moral obligation, and that there are infinite ways to show up as an activist and be a meaningful, helpful member of your community that do not require physical strength or mobility. That said, I think the meaning behind many of these messages is that taking care of ourselves to the extent possible, and doing what we can to feel the best we can in our bodies, can be a hugely helpful part of showing up for our communities. That’s something that applies to all of us.
Okay, here we go.
“The breakthrough for me was recognizing that the world and my life have become inherently more unpredictable and unstable. In not knowing what kind of future I need to be prepared for, the only thing I actually know I will need is resilience and flexibility, so any way I can build those in myself now, the better able I will continue to be of service as things unfold. Exercise for physical, mental, and emotional health is even MORE essential now.” —Rachel R.
“Some activist activities I’ve been able to do recently have exercise baked in! Biking to a park or library to collect signatures for my friend who’s running for office. Walking around my neighborhood with sidewalk chalk [to share information about No Kings Day, etc.]. It doesn’t have to be an either/or. I also participated in a run/walk that raised money for the National Immigration Justice Center. My fellow choir member and his family organized the event just because they felt they had to do something! Some of us choir folks sang during the event kickoff and it was awesome!” —Christie Ritten
“So part of it for me is simply that movement makes me feel powerful and capable. So if I am strong in my body, I will also be strong to meet the moment head on. That might be marching in a No Kings protest or calling reps (even if I’m not sure the latter will make a difference).
“The other part of it is that gathering for movement — like the dance classes I take 3x a week — allows me to engage in community in a way I wouldn’t otherwise. And my dance community is diverse and strong and welcoming, so I am in community with people who are fighting for a place in this world, too.
“All of that matters.
“As a movement educator, it does sometimes feel difficult to communicate this when people are losing their jobs, losing their rights, and in some cases, losing their freedom fully via ICE. I feel weird promoting programs and my online studio when the world is on fire. I feel helpless because there is only so much I can do.
“But what I can do is what I am good at, which is teaching movement. Teaching people how to be strong and move with more ease.
“Also, I can’t afford to be fully unemployed right now — even though my 2 sources of income have been radically impacted by this administration and I’m barely making enough to matter.” —
“Exercise is great for my anxiety and to stop me from doomscrolling. Thebrokegeneration had a podcast episode about avoiding mindlessly taking in bad news and bad takes and one of her recommendations is watching tv while on the treadmill and it’s very helpful.” —Sarah
“I was listening to the episode of ‘We Can Do Hard Things’ with the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge and ME talked about how she feels like what she can do in the face of all the crap going on in the world is model for her kids the joy and love for what she does. She knows that what she’s doing (making music and performing) is putting positivity and joy out in the world and that it makes a difference to a lot of people. I subscribe to the ‘joy as resistance’ frame of mind and I think exercise is a way of releasing stress and feeling good in our bodies. I want to model for my kid that I’m strong and taking care of myself, not collapsing into a pile on the floor over the awfulness of it all.” —Annika Dukes
Reading through all of these messages helped me remember my own purpose, which is helping all of you reclaim movement, improve your relationship with your body, and — bottom line — feel safer. That throughline of safety really weaves through not only everything I do here but why I think we all need to be paying attention and showing up for our people right now.
We all deserve safety.
So, yes, let’s exercise if we can. Let’s exercise so we feel good, and safe. And so we have the energy and nervous system regulation to do things like — if possible — take ICE watch trainings, participate in community defense networks, show up to document and deescalate attacks on our neighbors, attend school board meetings to speak up for trans and immigrant kids, call our representatives, and build bridges with each other.
Thank you for showing up here, and for anything and everything you’re doing to show up for others. (Including me!)
xo
Anna
I love this, Anna. I actually think movement and exercise is very important now - giving us the energy and strength to face each day and its trials, or even just forcing us to go outside and engage with the world, to touch grass. And also the community aspect, which several respondents mentioned, is huge.
Love this and totally agree. Taking care of ourselves is radical work and it's essential. Also I feel that as fitness instructor especially it's important right now to give people an opportunity for connection, joy and self care.