Ways To Incorporate Your Spiritual Practices Into Your Physical Activity Routine

Taja Watkins-Scott, BS

Physical Health & Wellness Associate 

​Whether you believe it or not, we’re all spiritual beings having a human experience in this thing we call life.  We consist of mind, body and soul and although these aspects of us are distinct from one another, they are interconnected and interdependent.

Many of us have adopted a more holistic approach when it comes to our overall health and acknowledge that these moving parts that make us who we are all need to be taken care of.  We know that our bodies need a good diet and exercise to maintain our physical health.  Our mental health and the importance to improve, nourish and maintain it are very much mainstream knowledge these days.  Those of us who are connected with our spiritual being are also aware that our souls (or higher self-etc.) also need to be taken care of too.

We often intermix our activities so that more than one aspect can enhance another such as listening to music, podcasts etc, that will inspire us to push harder during a workout to boost our mental capacity to keep going or listening to a meditation while sitting in nature to enhance both our mental and spiritual health, just to name a few examples.

When it comes to our mental health, we know that physical activity has a positive impact on improving this.  I wanted to step outside of this box and consider how our physical activities and spiritual practices could be intertwined to improve our holistic health.

I’m sure many of you have heard the term that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”.  To sum it up, it means that we can have good intentions to make positive changes in our lives, but due to various factors such as lack of willpower, discipline etc, we can often fall short of living up to them.  A real-life example to this could be wanting to change your diet from unhealthy to healthy, but due to years of being conditioned to eat unhealthy food, you find yourself constantly relapsing.

This is like a battle between the old you stuck in their ways and the new you that desires to strive for more and this is because they can often be out of alignment with one another because of what we’ve been taught and come to know.  Our soul already has the inner knowing of what is good for us and our physical body needs to catch up.

As much as this battle can be difficult, it also creates space to develop wisdom and understanding on the journey of getting these aspects into alignment with one another.

I wanted to share some ways in which I incorporate my spiritual practices and beliefs into my physical activity routine to keep me in alignment with who I’m striving to become on my personal journey:

• Going for walks in nature – I personally feel closer to our creator when I’m in the spaces that have been created for us to enjoy.  Not only do I get to appreciate what has been freely given to us, but my physical body gets to take on the benefits of better access to fresh air needed to sustain my physical activity.  Being in nature always puts me in a state of gratitude which benefits me holistically.
• Listening to uplifting music – I really enjoy weightlifting and I would say from the 3 or so months of 2022 onwards, I’ve been listening to more praise and worship music at the gym, instead of just at home.  I’ve noticed that this music pushes me to go harder and go for that extra rep or heavier weight even more so than in comparison to when I was listening to more mainstream music such as rap, trap etc.  It doesn’t have to be praise and worship music, but it could be music that lifts your spirits and encourages you to keep going.

• Listening to motivational words – I have found that on the days when my soul feels heavy, I really struggle to get myself to the gym, even though I know it will improve my mood.  When I get like this, I tend to listen to psalms or motivational speakers to re-ignite the fire in my spirit and get me going again.  You can do this before you go, on your journey and while you work out.  It’s really up to you and what works best.
• Having something physical to represent the spiritual – I know that everyone's spiritual beliefs vary, so I can only share my own, but I’ve noticed that sometimes when I’m struggling to keep focus during my workout, that I will rearrange my cross that I wear and hold it for a short while and it re-centres me.  You could also do this with healing crystals, chakra stones etc to ground or re-centre yourself before going for the next round of your workout.
• Praying and setting intentions – I often find myself praying for physical strength during my workout so that I can be pushed beyond the limits I place on myself.  It helps me feel encouraged and motivated to push myself in the way I would if I trained with a partner or trainer.  This is definitely a key go to for me as I train alone.  It has me feeling spiritually motivated while making a physical achievement.

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Although I have focused on the spiritual and the physical aspects being intertwined, these concepts naturally assist with my mental wellbeing also.  I hope that this can influence you to incorporate your spiritual practices into your physical activities or even inspire you to start being more active by implementing your spiritual practices alongside your physical journey.

Taja Watkins-Scott, BS

My name is Taja Watkins-Scott and professionally, I am a holistic bodywork therapist specializing in Swedish massage, sports massage and rehabilitation and acupuncture. I come from a sporting background both academically and physically and have participated in sport and fitness as far back as I can remember. In addition to bodywork, I also provide energy readings as a service. I would describe myself as a nurturer and spiritual being navigating the human experience of life and while on this journey, I am using my gifts to bring love, light and healing to as many people as I possibly can to raise the vibration of the world around us. I am a firm believer that our health should be considered holistically as every aspect of our lives; physically, spiritually and emotionally are all interconnected. I take this approach with my own life and treat my clients accordingly. Although I am a bodywork therapist, many of my clients have found a safe space in me to be vulnerable and let go of anxieties they may be holding on to. As someone who also lives with anxiety it warms my heart that others can find a safe haven in me to let go of theirs.