Motions of the day - Volume.1
Volume is the quantity of work we do. For most people I recommend worrying less about MORE volume and focusing more on QUALITY of work, as well as applying some volume to each of the 3 Dimensions of movement - Explorative (Locomotion, Distance Endurance, Obstacle and Environmental Adaptability), Expansive (Strength, Skills, Mobility) and Expressive (Listening to the body and moving based on that, also based on what helps performance or recovery, also giving creative, personalized empowerment).
When we move according to a strong standard, as well as listening into how our body adapts to such a standard, then we can bring about more harmony to our practice, our body, and ultimately our lifestyle. Where would we start if we aren’t consistently habituated to move in those different dimensions? Start with the practice you have, so for instance, a consistent yoga practice with short walks - perhaps we add calisthenics (push, pull, step, squat, hinge) before the yoga practice - but take breaks through the day to incorporate more of what you are unlearned or inconsistent with - then we might do calisthenics through the day and a longer walk before or after.
An easy way to think of it is Locomotion, Strengthen, Mobilize & Express. It is impossible to tell people how to flow and structure themselves, but giving you forms and tools, you can apply the simplest of those until you start to find what structures work well for you.
Give considerable time and patience to form a lifestyle, but expect yourself to form habits and practice pretty quickly if you do just a little bit of each Dimension every day, maybe 1 or 2 days a week going lighter. Remember too much volume can be just as detrimental as none sometimes, because we might injure or overwork our body and then it would be unrealistic to expect growth when we are more in need of recovery, rest, repair, relaxation. Pay attention to how much you do and what effect it has that day as well as when you are doing that over time. Accumulation of stress can be difficult to pick up on, because it takes time and we get used to it. So every few weeks, evaluate and refine your course of action for each Dimension of movement!
AWARENESS, INTENTION & ACTION: Evaluate your practice and involve yourself with some of what you aren’t doing out of the 3 Movement Dimensions on a daily basis. If you aren’t walking, hiking, running, rucking or swimming some everyday, do more of one or a combination of those modalities. If you aren’t doing some kind of strength and mobility work like calisthenics, lifting, yoga, active & passive stretches/mobilizations, incorporate one or a combination of those modalities. If you aren’t taking time to be and express your body for the sake of movement, take time to do more movement that feels good to you.
