The Healthy Brain Podcast

The Healthy Brain Podcast


016 Moving And Grooving To A Healthy Body And Brain

May 26, 2020

 
We all remember the good times when we would move and groove to the music of youth and innocence. As we age, however, many of us lose that free-flowing connection with physical activity. We go about with our sedentary lifestyles day by day, accumulating stress in our bodies and our minds. Carrie Miller reminds us that neither our brains nor our bodies can function properly without movement. She encourages us to get off the couch and start doing physical activities that are suited to the needs and abilities of our bodies. Listen in and get moving and grooving towards a healthy body and brain!

Listen to the podcast here:
Moving And Grooving To A Healthy Body And Brain
I guarantee you won’t find any sugar coat in this space. I was looking at the title of this show. I was thinking, “I may be telling my age with this whole moving and grooving title.” I was born in the ’60s and raised in the ’70s. I’ve got to say when those ’80s hit with that Flashdance look, I don’t know how old you are, but I was in my twenties. We get ready to go out on the town in Houston, Texas. We walk out of our closets looking like Jane Fonda or Richard Simmons on steroids wearing some bright, tight clothes, miniskirts with a tank and blousy sleeve tops sometimes. We can’t forget about those legwarmers with those psychedelic colors and our hair. Eighties hairdos, that was the look.
We could have passed for Mufasa on The Lion King. That teased out mane with maybe ten layers of hairspray. I lost count after two sprays. I’ll be darned. That nest was not about to move out of place when I hit that dance floor for that song, Let’s Dance by David Bowie. I still love to roll out the red carpet with those pictures because who doesn’t love a good belly laugh? We had such fun times. I don’t know how I drifted from grooving and Flashdance and all the way to The Lion King but sometimes you got to mix it up with a little storytelling. Let’s face it, we can all use a little storytelling and humor these days reminiscing about good times. Nothing is better than that.
Let’s focus. Let’s get back to moving and grooving. I want to preface this show by saying I am not here to tell you that you’ve got to go join a gym do many reps on each arm, leg, participate in any exercise class, or run a marathon. This is the space of encouragement to get you off your butt and do something. Our bodies nor our brains can function properly without movement. You know that and I know that. Honestly, if this is not the time to get up and get moving, then I don’t know what is. We’re in May 2020 and parts of the country are still locked down because of a virus. Many of us have been glued to recliners, couches and porches. Most of us have gotten away from good habits. We don’t even know what to do or what we’re supposed to do to get back up. Meanwhile, your brain has turned to mush. Your body is in no shape to even walk around the block. I know I’ve been there and it is not fun to have that lack of energy being mentally or physically drained.
Let’s get going on this topic because physical activity is a part of self-care and it is a necessity in life. I am excited to talk about it. One question I get most often is, “What exercise or activity do I need to do to get to keep in shape?” I’ve worked out in some form or fashion most of my life around 40, 45 years, I always respond in this way, “You need to do what works for your body.” I’m a total advocate for never following the crowds because, as I always preach, God created us all so uniquely different. What works for others, may not work for you. We’re all in different places mentally, physically and emotionally. Give yourself some space. Don’t be hard on yourself. In