The Magic of Movement: How Moving My Body Saved My Life
- kathrynkeefer87
- 56 minutes ago
- 3 min read
For so much of my life, movement felt like a burden. It was the “should” on my to-do list that I dreaded. The workouts, the schedules, the pressure to look a certain way—it all felt heavy and uninviting. And because of that weight, I resisted it.
But what I didn’t realize was that movement wasn’t here to punish me. It was here to save me.
From the Depths of Depression
Years ago, when we were living in Hawaii, my world felt impossibly heavy. My husband was an active-duty Marine, away from home most of the time. I had a nine-month-old on my hip, and soon after, I found myself pregnant again. When my second daughter was born, I had a toddler and a newborn and almost no support system.
I had already been diagnosed with depression when I was younger, and postpartum just stacked on top of that. I cried constantly. I felt utterly lost and so alone.
And then one day, in the fog of survival, I got a whisper of a download: get outside and walk.
The First Step
I bought a jogging stroller, bundled up my toddler and my three-month-old baby, and pushed her out into the fresh air. Step by step, I started to feel something shifting. That walk turned into another. Those walks slowly turned into runs.
Before I knew it, people in my community were recognizing me: “You’re the girl who runs.”
Movement became my lifeline. It cracked the shell of depression and let in light.
Remembering the Little Girl
In those moments, I remembered the little girl inside of me—the one who used to stand in front of a Barbie workout video with her twin sister at age six, moving her body with joy and pretending she was a fitness instructor. That memory awakened something.
I eventually became a fitness instructor myself. Movement became not just something I did, but a part of who I am.
The Shadow Side
But here’s the truth: movement can also become addictive. There were seasons where I pushed too hard, never letting my body rest, mistaking constant exertion for worthiness.
And yet, even in that, I learned. I discovered that it’s not about perfection, nor about killing yourself with intense workouts. It’s about feeling alive in your body. It’s about moving because you love yourself, not because you’re trying to fix yourself.
The Everyday Magic
Now, I see movement as a sacred practice—one that clears stagnant energy, shifts my mood, and reminds me of the gift of being alive. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated.
Put on a song and have a five-minute dance party with your kids.
Bounce on a mini-trampoline for a few minutes.
Step outside and walk around the block.
My FAVORITE movement platform is MWH by Melissa Wood, it's full of mom-friendly pilates
, yoga, and more.
Stretch, sway, breathe, and move however your body is asking you to.
And don’t save it for that one workout you “should” do in the morning. Set a timer throughout your day and gift yourself moments to reconnect to your body.
What Will Save Your Life?
Movement saved my life, again and again. It’s a reminder that energy is meant to move. When we let it flow, we return to joy, to gratitude, to aliveness.
So I ask you: What’s the thing that will save your life? What did you love to do as a child? Start there. Begin small. Let joy be the guide.
Because when you move your body from love—not punishment—you step into a deeper kind of healing magic.
🌸 A Ritual for You
Take this moment to reflect and embody:
✨ Journaling Prompt: When I think back to my childhood, what movement brought me joy? How can I weave a few minutes of that joy into my day today?
✨ Mantra:🌺 I move because I love myself. My body is sacred, and every step, sway, and stretch is a celebration of my aliveness.
💫 Let this be your reminder today: Movement isn’t about “should.” It’s about sacred flow. Move in love. Move in joy. Move to come home to yourself.
Do you need more support in even discovering what path is right for you and the tools you can utilize to find your BEST self? I want to help support you.
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