Herts Balance Series: Find Your Way Of Moving by Vivian Amati

“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” Yeah, I know — Elle Woods said it first. Writing this is unbelievable because I used to physically cringe at the mention of exercise. In my head, it was all pain, sweat, and torture by treadmill.

You know those people who would say, “You should move your body, it’s good for you,” and wouldn’t stop talking about fitness? I used to cringe at them. Now, I fear I’ve become one of them. Crazy, right? And no — I didn’t have some dramatic awakening. I was simply part of the “This is my fitness era” club every New Year… for five years. Then, in mid-February 2025 (yes, it still counts), I took it seriously and started moving more.

At first, I did what I thought I was supposed to do: I joined the gym. This lasted for almost two months — and no laughing. It felt like a chore, something I forced myself to do, and I didn’t enjoy it at all. I dreaded going, so I stopped. Honestly, I don’t regret quitting, because it led me to the most important lesson in my fitness journey: if you don’t enjoy your movement, you won’t stick to it.

So, I stepped back and asked myself what I actually liked. Surprisingly, the answer was walking and Pilates. This shocked me, because I never enjoyed walking, and the closest I’d been to Pilates was watching “Get ready with me for Pilates” videos on TikTok. But these movements were simple, gentle, and — most importantly — didn’t make me want to cry into a protein shake on the stair master. I started looking forward to movement instead of running away from it. Slowly, I noticed changes that had nothing to do with my body and everything to do with my mind.

Movement reduced my stress and helped quiet the noise in my head. My mood lifted, and I felt lighter and more confident. Even on low days, a short walk helped more than scrolling ever could. Pilates made me feel stronger and more capable, and most importantly, it taught me discipline. Showing up for myself, even in small ways, helped me build routines and feel more in control of my life.

Now, I know not everyone has the privilege of time. Even though I live on campus, I understand how commuting can drain your energy before the day even begins. But I genuinely believe you can still fit in movement if you redefine what “fitness” means. It doesn’t have to be a one-hour gym session. It can be small, realistic habits like:

• getting off the bus one stop early and walking a bit

• doing a 10-minute stretch or Pilates flow before a shower

• walking between classes instead of sitting through long breaks

• swapping one scroll session a day for a short walk or mobility video

Movement doesn’t have to be aesthetic or intense — it just has to make you feel good. Find what you enjoy, whether it’s cycling, dancing, walking, yoga, Pilates, running, swimming, or skating, and let it fit into your life, not the other way around. When movement becomes something you want to do instead of something you should do, everything changes.

Life gets busy, messy, and overwhelming. That’s exactly why you need to show up for yourself in the small moments. Move for your mind. Move for your peace. Move because you deserve to feel good in your own body.

I hope my story reminds you that you don’t have to be a “fitness person” to start. You just have to start — in any way that feels right for you.