Things I Did To Heal My Inner Child Recently: Movement Edition

Growing up entrenched in diet culture, I learned early on to see my body as something to be controlled, shaped, and disciplined. Add to that the weight of personal trauma, and it’s no wonder my relationship with movement has often been fraught. Exercise became a tool to escape—to escape the present moment, to escape my emotions, to escape myself. It was rarely about listening to my body and what it needed; it was about changing my body or proving my worth through effort and achievement.

But lately, I’ve been working on healing my inner child by reconnecting with movement in a way that feels playful, gentle, and attuned to my needs. Here’s what that’s looked like for me recently:

Trying Something New for Funsies

I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try new activities like aerial yoga and multiple Pilates classes. And you know what? I’m really enjoying them! It’s been freeing to explore movement not as a chore but as an experiment in joy.

Giving Myself Grace

When I didn’t get a choreography sequence or a move quite right, I let myself laugh it off instead of spiraling into frustration. I’ve learned to see these moments as opportunities to practice self-compassion, reminding myself that the goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection.

Building My Schedule Around What Brings Me Joy

There’s a yoga teacher I absolutely love, so I started building my weekly schedule around their class. Prioritizing what lights me up has been a radical act of self-care.

Letting Showing Up Be Enough

On days when I needed softness, I let simply showing up to a class be enough. Some days, just being there is the victory—no need for extra effort or self-criticism.

Prioritizing Fun Over “Shoulds”

Instead of doing what I thought I “should” do—like a high-intensity workout or another run—I chose activities that felt fun and aligned with my current needs. It’s been a way of telling my inner child, “Your joy matters more than external expectations.”

Investing in Guidance

I stopped putting the burden on myself to plan every workout and invested in classes instead. Having someone else guide me has lifted a huge weight and allowed me to simply enjoy the process.

Resting When I Need To

Resting during workouts and even taking entire days off when I’m fatigued has been an act of rebellion against the hustle culture mindset I grew up in. It’s a reminder that my worth isn’t tied to how hard I push myself.

Gentle Encouragement

When I know movement will serve me—like getting outside for a walk on a tough day—I’ve gently encouraged myself to take that step. The key has been doing it from a place of self-love, not self-punishment.

Allowing My Preferences to Evolve

For most of my life, running was my favorite form of movement. It gave me a sense of freedom and helped me connect with myself when I desperately needed an escape. But lately, running just isn’t it for me anymore. Instead of forcing myself to stick with it, I’ve allowed my tastes to evolve. It’s been liberating to embrace what feels good now instead of clinging to what worked in the past.

Relearning How to Listen

Healing my inner child in this way has meant learning to listen to my body again. It’s meant resting more, moving gently, and taking it easy when that’s what I need. It’s meant letting go of the rigid rules I once clung to and creating space for spontaneity, joy, and rest. It’s a process of rebuilding trust with myself and reclaiming movement as a source of connection rather than disconnection.

By prioritizing fun, allowing my preferences to shift, and showing myself compassion, I’m rewriting the story I’ve carried about movement. I’m proving to my inner child that movement can be about play and freedom, not punishment or escape. And in doing so, I’m stepping into a version of myself that feels more whole, more present, and more alive.

If you’re on a similar journey of healing and looking for ways to reconnect with your body, somatic therapy can be a powerful tool. Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy helps you feel safer and more connected in your body, making it easier to listen to its cues and honor your needs. It’s a way to move past guilt about resting and embrace what your body truly needs. By addressing the root of disconnection and creating safety from within, somatic therapy can fast-track the process of reclaiming joy, freedom, and ease in your relationship with movement. If this resonates with you, it might be time to explore how somatic therapy could support your healing journey.

About the Author

Martha Carter is a licensed therapist providing virtual services in Colorado. She is trauma-informed and trained in somatic, neurobiology-based modalities to help people with all types of trauma and chronic pain heal from the inside out.

(Colorado residents only)