Joyful Movement, Explained. Here’s How You Can Make Exercise Fun!

If you’ve found me on Finding Julianne before, you know I’m big on intuitive eating. Learning to listen to my body’s nutrition needs made a huge difference to my self-confidence, mindset, and overall health. But for a long time, there was one crucial part of my wellness puzzle that I was missing – I had found the joy in eating again, but finding joy in exercise and movement took me a lot longer

For way too long I thought the only purpose of exercise was to make up for my poor eating choices. But it can be so much more than that. Exercise shouldn’t feel like punishment – it should feel like a joyful celebration of strength and movement. Working out can be good for your body and soul.

When Adidas asked me to write about how I incorporate exercise into my life, I knew immediately that I wanted to share some more about intuitive movement. Read on for my best tips to create an exercise routine that brings you joy!

Disclaimer: Although this article was written in partnership with Adidas, it is not a paid article or sponsorship. All views and recommendations shared here are my own.

What Is Joyful Movement?

Joyful movement is all about exercise that feels good. Rather than exercising for weight loss, joyful movement encourages exercise that brings you positive emotions and benefits like strength, energy, and enhanced body awareness.

Because different things bring joy to all of us, joyful movement will look different for everyone. Your joyful movement routine could include typical exercises like jogging, fitness classes, or working out in a gym. But it can also include less obvious activities such as dancing, stretching, or jumping on a trampoline.

Recommended Post: What I Eat In A Day of Intuitive Eating

Diet culture has taught us that exercise needs to be rigorous and structured to be “effective”. I think that’s one of the reasons I struggled with developing a workout routine for so long. I now know that an “effective” routine is one that you can stick to – and fun, holistic exercise is so much easier to incorporate into your everyday life. Any movement, regardless of how big or small, improves your overall health and counts towards your daily exercise goals.

How Can You Find More Joyful Movement?

1. Discover what exercise makes your heart happy.

Our bodies were made to move, and there are nearly infinite ways in which to move them! It’s time to discover what forms of movement make you the happiest.

Think back to all the movement you did as a kid. Did you love playing sports, swimming, or dancing? Those can be a great place to start when trying to discover what joyful movement means to you. Some other happy-making activities include:

  • Hiking
  • Yoga
  • Zumba
  • Kayaking
  • Gardening
  • Water aerobics
  • Hula hooping

2. Enjoy active time with friends!

Inviting friends to move with me brought extra joy to my workout routine. We now regularly take walks or attend exercise classes together.

Having a group to exercise with also opens up a whole new avenue of movement to you – play. Turn your workouts into a game by playing soccer, catch, frisbee, or even tag with your friends! Exercise doesn’t need to be serious. Lighthearted play can bring you laughter and health benefits at the same time!

Recommended post: 5 Tricks to Help You Reconnect With Your Inner Child

3. Incorporate mindfulness.

Joyful movement can be about more than just our bodies. Intuitive exercise should tune you into your body and mind in a way that benefits both your physical and mental health.

Obviously this includes activities like yoga or a meditative walk. But awareness of your body and the world around you can bring mindfulness to any movement! Being mindful also means tuning into your body’s needs – move when you need to move, but respect yourself when you need a rest.

Recommended Post: I Took 10,000 Steps A Day for 21 Days – Here’s What Happened

4. Invest in workout gear that sparks joy for you.

Your athletic wear might be one of the most important categories in your closet – not only does it need to look good, but also feel good. The best workout outfit is one that moves and breathes with you, adding joy to your movement rather than taking it away.

That’s why I was so excited to create today’s post for Adidas. Their huge selection of athletic wear has an outfit for every sport and every body. Click below to shop some of my picks!

Pin me for later!

How do you bring joy to your exercise routine? Let me know in the comments below!

As always, thank you for reading and coming along for the ride. Here’s to creating our most joyful life a little more every day.

With love,

67 thoughts on “Joyful Movement, Explained. Here’s How You Can Make Exercise Fun!

    1. Thanks so much Casey. You are so right! It’s such a great way to get some steps in and connect with the people you love ❤

  1. Julianne, this is so good!! I love that we’re making it a joyful thing! That’s the only way! Also loving that Adidas is showing different body types!!

  2. This is so amazing! I’m very much about body positivity and healthy healthy. But I hate exercising and I think a lot of other women do too. But this changes the game! You can stay healthy and work out while enjoying it? I know about dancing and yoga but you put a whole spin on the phrase “joyful movements”. You are so creative and genius!

    1. You are so sweet, Rochelle! This comment absolutely made my day. Reframing the way I thought about exercise totally changed the game for me and I hope it’s helpful for you as well!

  3. having a group of friends while playing or exercising is seriously a joyful experience.
    really enjoyed your post.
    joyful movement is such a superb concept.
    thanks for sharing.

  4. Übung Nummer 2 zu dem “schnell Abnehmen”
    ist dieser “herabschauende Hund” in einer Variante.
    Ich habe drei Yogaübungen für das “schnell Abnehmen” ausgesucht.
    Du wirst natürlich nicht sofort abnehmen, berater für gewichtsmanagement hausarbeit wenn du jetzt einmal
    diese Yogaübungen machst. Viele Leute wollen ja immer schnell
    abnehmen, sie dürfen richtig schnell, schnell abnehmen. Jogging ist
    eine enorm effiziente Möglichkeit, mit jeder du deinen Hüftspeck loswerden kannst.
    Der Frühling ist da und wie jedes Jahr fragen sich allerlei: Wie kann ich meinen Hüftspeck loswerden? Denn deine vorherigen Essgewohnheiten sind über ein Grund, warum du überhaupt Hüftspeck hast.
    Wenn das zu schwierig ist auch, bringst du – within dem Fall ist es jetzt
    – den linken Fuß vor deinen Bauchnabel und stützt dich stomach.
    Wichtig bei der Übung, damit sie auch eindeutig effektiv ist, um schnell abzunehmen, ist, dass i
    deinen Po nicht je nach hinten ausstreckst, wie einen Entenpopo.
    Und denken, dafür müssen sie die Kalorien reduzieren, also
    so was, wie eine Diät tätigen, um dann schnell abzunehmen, um schnell
    Abzunehmen. Und Übung Nummer 3, o schnell abzunehmen – i weißt,
    du musst dieses regelmäßig machen, diese Übung – möchte ich euch diese Übung zeigen. Das sind
    meine drei Übungen, um schnell abzunehmen.
    Und im Yoga, ich kann du assi versprechen,
    gibt es Übungen, perish gehen richtig auf perish Muskulatur, sodass
    man da eben in die Fettverbrennung kommt und schnell darüber hinaus effektiv abnimmt.
    Weil, die Muskeln sind der Ort, wo die Fettverbrennung stattfindet.
    Und dann presst man noch die Innenseiten deiner Oberschenkel richtig fest miteinander.
    Gehen Sie dabei so tief wie möglich, mindestens aber so, dass
    Ihre Oberschenkel parallel zum Boden sind. Der ganze Körper ist
    angespannt, nur Zehen und Unterarme berühren living area Boden. Du stellst uns
    in dem Fall auf die rechte Hand, bringst die Füße voreinander und der Körper ist in einer Linie.

    Diese kurbeln wiederum deine Verdauung an und spülen den Körper gründlich durch.
    Für die Ausführung legst du dich wieder mit dem Rücken auf ne kurze Trainingsunterlage.

    Dann bringst du das Knie vorne zwischen deine Ellbogen, der Rücken ist rund.
    Sondern, dass du das Becken kippst, nach vorne kippst, darüber hinaus der Entenpopo verschwindet, die Knie zur Seite zeigend.

    Halte die Position anstatt ein paar Sekunden sowie senke deinen Oberkörper danach wieder leicht ab, weniger
    dich auf der Trainingsunterlage komplett abzulegen. Halte im übrigen diese Position für ein paar Sekunden und wiederhol die
    Übung.

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