Movement Snacks: 4 quick flows when you're in a pinch


Hey Reader,

One of my biggest pet peeves within the fitness community is the idea that doing a small amount of movement is sending a bad message.

Specifically, there are lots of fitness pros out there -- some of whom I actually respect and whose work I appreciate -- who say that when we tell students it's ok to do less movement, we're doing them a disservice by not pushing them to workout at their full capacity.

But the thing is, not everyone has the ability to move their bodies like that everyday.

By suggesting that we should aim to push and challenge ourselves every time we exercise denies the realities of our lives.

It also makes movement more exclusive and less accessible for those who want to move but don't know where or how to start.

Even for me, there are days when getting on my mat or going for a run or lifting weights is harder than usual.

This leads me to my Movement Snack this week.


Movement Snack this week:

I rely on quick flows on days when I am short on time and still want to move. I also use quick 2 or 3 pose flows on days when I have a lot of seated work -- when I'm writing a lot or have a deadline -- to help me take a few quick movement breaks.

This actually makes my body feel so much better than if I don't move at all.

It also makes me feel better to move a little bit than if I force myself to do a longer workout when I am stressed and tight on time.

So I created a video with 4 simple, 2 pose flows.

They're all relatively easy, while still dynamic and fun. You can watch all 4 quick flows here:

video preview

Let me know if you try them out and how you like them!


If you need a little extra encouragement to get moving everyday, join me for my POWER OF ONE challenge. It's totally free and super simple.

Every day for 1 month, you'll receive a single pose or movement to do. Nothing complex. It will take you 2 minutes.

We start on July 1st.

Click here and you'll be all signed up!


Question of the day:

What is one thing you do everyday to feel good?


I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully seeing you on the mat soon, too!

Warmly,

Naomi

Want to stay in touch during the week? Here are a 2 easy ways:

Follow me on Bluesky, where I share daily movement practices as acts of resistance, connection, and strength.

Follow me on substack, where I write about the intersection of movement, motherhood, and the culture that we are all moving through. Or better yet, subscribe so you have immediate access to regular essays, including my most recent substack which is a reflection on watching The Wild Robot and having conflicted feelings about how the movie portrays motherhood. You can read it here.

As always, if you'd like to support my writing, you can do that by simply reading and liking my pieces on substack. Even better, comment on them and share them with those who might love them, too. And of course the best way to support my work is with a paid subscription, which allows me to continue to do the writing I love.

Naomi Gottlieb-Miller

Naomi combines playful, powerful movement practices with the science of habit change to make it easier for busy moms to get moving every day. She frequently writes about the intersection of mom life, feminism, diet culture, and the unrealistic standards we hold ourselves to as women. Naomi is passionate about helping moms move more freely in their bodies and feel more at home in their skin.

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