Movement for Mental Health, Everybody, Everyway

By Sarah Swirsky, MSW, LISW-S    

As a working talk therapist, I believe deeply in the power of a good conversation. Being heard, gaining insight, and feeling connected can be life-changing. But I can also tell you this: when I’m in a funk, one of the most reliable ways I shift my mood is by moving my body to music—whether that’s on my yoga mat, taking a walk with headphones on, or dancing in my kitchen. And when I had hip surgery, you better believe I was still dancing in my chair.

Because mental health doesn’t just live in the mind—it lives in the body, too. Stress, anxiety, grief, and burnout often show up physically, and movement can help us process, release, and regulate what words sometimes cannot. That’s also why we created our Music + Movement program: to help people experience wellness in ways that feel joyful, accessible, and real.

This May, for Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re celebrating Movement for Mental Health—and our Movement for Mental Health Challenge is already underway.

This challenge is rooted in a simple belief: movement is for every body. It doesn’t have to be intense or look a certain way to matter. A stretch, a walk, a few songs in the living room, gentle yoga, gardening, or a few steps outside all count.

For me, movement used to look like hiking a 14,000-foot mountain—and now it often looks like gentle yoga or short walks as I navigate ongoing pain from injuries.                                                                                                                                          

Whether you’re already a committed mover or also finding new ways to move in a changing body, you’re invited to join us. We’re encouraging our community to aim for 150 minutes of movement each week (in whatever way works for you), with simple check-ins, music, and shared encouragement along the way.

Because sometimes, the first step toward feeling better is quite literally a step.