A mantra and an invitation
“Move the body, the mind will follow."
This phrase has become an oft-repeated mantra since I was a child. My mum and I first heard it from a priest and while I don't recall how it connected to his sermon, we took the sentiment home with us. As a moody teen, my mum would repeat it to me when I'd try to weasel out of a get-together with friends or a bike ride we'd planned on.
When she did, I'd purse my lips in protest, but ultimately, I'd give it a shot. Because implicit in its meaning is that it’s an invitation, not a command.
Just try. No expectations.
Arrive at the get-together or commit to five minutes of bike riding. If your mind hasn't caught up by then, then give yourself permission to stop. Excuse yourself from your friends. Turn the bike around. But most of the time, being out with friends or moving my body was exactly what I needed.
And so, I've found this little adage to be a gentle friend ever since.
Feeling frozen in February
In the cold days of February, when the mornings haven't quite lightened yet and my new year intentions may be shaky, this mantra never fails to bubble up again and again.
"Move the body, the mind will follow."
Sometimes when the thought comes to me, I still glare at it - the moody teenager lives inside me forever - but I always invite myself to try. Start with five minutes of movement. Get myself ready for sewing class. Then see if my mind follows, without expectation of the result.
Like the role of the observer we cultivate in yoga, let the next few moments be an open exploration of what comes up.
When the mind follows
When I take the invitation to try, I keep it simple. Spend 10 minutes on the mat. Do a yoga snack. Or simply get in the car before deciding if I'll go to class. Most times, this is enough to get my mind to follow my body's lead.
When it does, I try to take a moment to offer myself gratitude for taking the first step. I also notice how things feel afterwards. Maybe my mind feels calmer or my body feels more energized. This pause (when I remember to do it!) encourages me to continue to answer my mantra's nudge next time.
There are days though, when my mind stays put despite moving my body.
When the mind doesn't follow
I may have tried some sun salutes and my mind is still aching to be on my couch. I got into the car for sewing class, but I can't bring myself to start the engine. Before I default to calling it a day, I pause and sink into the moment. With an observer's mind, I ask myself, "What do I need right now?" and listen for what comes up.
In some cases, skipping class isn't what my mind is really asking for. It might be that it needs restoration. Or it needs quiet, but not solitude. My yoga practice can meet me here too.
This is when unwinding with others in a Relax and Restore class or finding peace in a Yoga Nidra workshop become intentional opportunities to support myself. Almost like I'm going on a mini-retreat that's only a few minutes from home (or even in my living room!). In this way, the practice doesn't end when my mind doesn't follow, it simply explores a different part of the path.
A practice of love
What I've ultimately learned from the many years that "move the body, the mind will follow" has whispered into my ear is that it's a chance to pause and reflect. It encourages me to ask myself what I really need and give myself space to answer.
This childhood mantra that irked me as a teen has ultimately evolved into a loving way to check in with myself and continue to learn all that yoga has to teach me. I hope it's helpful for you too.
What's a five-minute invitation you can give yourself today?
