Growing up, I thrived outside but struggled when asked to stay still. I always felt like an animal stuck inside a cage, sitting behind a desk, crunching numbers, fumbling through reports, and then racing to bed wishing the day was over.

For years I was stuck in a cycle of failure, until I learned a way to “break free of my cage.” This is when I walked away from my desk, and closed the door behind me for good.

Like many people, I sat behind a desk for the majority of my life; starting as a child in school and then as an adult the workplace. Since much of our society’s work is knowledge-based, and being able to sit still in front of a computer is prioritized, the role that movement plays in our culture is minimized. Unfortunately, lack of movement is not without consequences. Our bodies have evolved with movement and for movement. Sitting, and even standing for long periods of time, can cause harm to our bodies.

In my early 20’s, I worked in social services managing cases for foster care children enrolled in behavioral rehabilitation services. I sat between 10 to 16 hours per day, until I eventually began to notice pain during simple movements like bending or stretching. It hurt to stand, and walking up a flight of stairs winded me. I wasn’t able to keep up with friends and family on outings. By the time I was in my mid-20’s, I was obese, pre-diabetic, and struggling with depression, poor self-esteem, and hopelessness.

The stress of the job didn’t help either. I wasn’t happy. I realized that in order to address the harm that was being done to my body, I needed to fundamentally change my relationship with it. I wanted to establish positive self-perception, develop healthy habits, and learn to engage with my environment. The problem was that I had no idea where to start, how my body worked, or how to implement lasting changes. This is when I decided to go back to school, and earn my certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine in 2014.

Since then, I have worked as a fitness coach, specializing in functional mobility and strength conditioning. During my time training both individuals and groups, I have come to understand one fundamental truth: an individual’s ability to fully express human movement as we are designed to do is essential to maintaining overall wellness. The more you move, the better. I fell in love with learning and discovering new ways to move, which in turn makes me a better trainer.

Stories like mine are all too common, but no matter what your goals, limitations, or fears might be, the answer is always the same. MOVE MORE.