Why Movement Is Joy
Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to treat movement (exercise) like a chore – something to tick off a list, something we “should” do, something we earn or punish ourselves with. We tie it to results, metrics and what we see on social media. But movement isn’t meant to feel like something you resent. It’s meant to feel like freedom.
At be.retreats, we see this shift in ideology in real time. Guests often arrive on retreats carrying the belief that movement must be intense, structured, or performance driven. But a few days into the trip – stretching in front of Mount Etna, laughing through a hike, working out gently at sunrise - their whole relationship with their bodies begins to morph.
Movement becomes joyful again.
Because at its core, movement is one of the simplest, most instinctive ways we can reconnect with ourselves. Think about children: they run, roll, climb, and jump simply because it feels good to them. There’s no agenda or ulterior motive - no tracking, no pressure to “make it count.” They move because happiness lives in motion. And that playfulness still lives in us, buried under crazy schedules, expectations, and the belief that exercise must be hard to be worthwhile.
When we strip away the pressure, movement becomes a conversation rather than a command. Your body tells you when it wants to stretch, when it wants to rest, when it wants to go for a long walk, when it craves a heart-pounding sweat session. And when you honour those signals, your nervous system relaxes, your mood lifts, and you feel more grounded in yourself. You’re not forcing yourself to do anything; you’re flowing.
Movement also anchors us in the present moment. It’s hard to spiral into overthinking when you’re feeling your feet hit the ground on a walk or noticing the warmth build in your muscles during a deep stretch. That’s why movement is such a powerful antidote to stress - it pulls you back into your body, back into your senses, back into the moment. It’s a form of mindfulness that doesn’t require sitting still.
And it doesn’t have to be glamorous. It can be dancing in your kitchen while dinner cooks, a ten-minute stretch before bed, walking to your local coffee shop, carrying groceries with a bit more intention, or rolling out your mat because your back whispered “please.” Small, joyful forms of movement add up, and they’re often the ones that stick because they’re woven into your life, not added on top of everything else.
Movement can also build community, which is something we witness on every retreat. People bond over shared hikes or stretch sessions and the collective energy of choosing to show up for themselves. Movement makes connection feel easier - not just with others, but with yourself. When you move in ways that feel good, you soften. You open. You find a kinder rhythm with yourself.
And that’s the heart of it: movement isn’t about changing your body; it’s about living in it. It’s about appreciating what it can do. It’s about remembering that your body is not an obstacle to overcome but a companion to care for.
So the next time you think about exercise or movement, ask yourself what would feel joyful, energising, or grounding today. Let movement be something that gives, not something that takes from you.
Because movement isn’t just good for you - it’s happiness in motion. And you deserve to feel that every day.
