By Amy Cooke, amycookemovement.com
You might have heard the saying “movement is medicine” — and it’s true. Exercise has the power to support healing, reduce pain, build strength, boost energy, and improve mental health.
So why do you keep injuring yourself when you try? Or feel depleted afterwards?
My belief is that the magic isn’t in the movement itself — it’s in choosing the right movement for you.
Most of us have tried following generic workout videos or going to group classes that promise results. And sometimes they can be fantastic. But often, people are left wondering why they still feel stiff, sore, tired — or like they’re making chronic conditions or injuries worse — even though they’re “doing all the right things.”
Here’s the thing: your body isn’t generic.
Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing pelvic health issues, coping with menopause, dealing with teenage growing pains, or trying to improve sports performance — your body has its own history, patterns, and needs.
The body is incredibly complex. Medical history, posture, age, sex, training background, and even your nervous system state all play a role.
What works brilliantly for one person might not work at all for another. A core exercise that helps one person feel stronger might increase tension or discomfort in someone else. A stretch that eases tightness in one body might cause pain in another. It may be that your nervous system is in overdrive, and you need to build more gently.
It’s not that the movement is wrong — it’s that the approach might need to be adapted. Especially at the start.
That’s why individualised movement can feel so different. It’s not just about what you’re doing — it’s how, why, and when you’re doing it, based on real understanding of your body’s mechanics and needs.
And one of the easiest places to start is with posture.
Not in a rigid or “stand up straight” kind of way — but by bringing a little awareness to how you’re holding yourself during everyday moments. It’s often the small shifts that create the biggest ripple effects.
Quick tip you can try today:
Before any exercise or stretch — or even just while brushing your teeth — take a moment to check how you’re standing:
- Are your shoulders and neck relaxed?
- Are your feet hip-distance apart?
- Do you feel lengthened?
- Is your weight evenly distributed between your feet — and between heels and toes?
- Are your eyes on the horizon?
Takeaway? Movement is powerful — but it’s even more powerful when it’s tailored.
If you’ve been pushing through generic routines and still don’t feel quite right, it might be time to get curious about what your body actually needs.
Amy Cooke is a movement specialist and pelvic health recovery coach based in Stroud. She offers personalised one-to-one sessions for women, teenagers, and athletes at amycookemovement.com
