I'm really trying something new here. I'm not creating an "exercise routine". I'm seeing what can happen if I strengthen & care for my body on my terms.

I will look up some Yoga instruction, because guidance can be really helpful, but I'm not going to be doing a "10 minute Yoga session" or a "30 minute Yoga session" or whatever. I just want to start taking time in my day to be present in my body & move & stretch.

I have persistent back pain that I suspect could be significantly reduced by stretching & strengthening the muscles in my back & shoulders.

I tried doing an easy "stretching routine" I found on YouTube, hoping that something short like that would be sustainable. It lasted for a few days.

I'm experimenting to see what happens when I think carefully about how I move but I do it my way on my schedule & with no straining, no holding stretches any longer than feels right, & no preconceived "rules".

I don't think I discovered the panacea that will make me far more physically active all of a sudden.

But I think I may have learned something about how I can care for my body without the stress, pressure, shame, & guilt of trying to exercise in the "right" or "most effective" way.

What if the biggest barrier to me incorporating movement into my life was just the belief that I *had* to follow someone else's lead or do one of the "pre-approved" forms of exercise?

"Always try to stretch a little farther or hold the pose a little longer."

Why? Fucking why? I'm not trying to be a gymnast. I'm trying to incorporate movement into my life in a way that will help me feel physically & emotionally better.

Do I really need to strain every day? Could I just be slow & gentle & pay attention to my body's signals?

Edit: it's good to stretch further, but personally I've always felt like fitness instruction pressures me to *strain* through things.