There is a subtle difference between two words that sound remarkably alike: intention and tension.
One helps us move forward. The other often keeps us stuck.
Intention is the mindful act of placing your attention on something that matters. It is a conscious choice of direction. Tension, on the other hand, often grows from worry about the future, regret about the past, or fear that we are not doing enough, achieving enough, or changing quickly enough.
The difference matters because many people begin an exercise program with tension rather than intention.
They exercise because they
are frustrated with their body
fear aging
feel guilty for what they ate
guilty about how little they’ve moved
or how long it has been since they last exercised.
While those feelings may get us moving for a short time, they rarely create a sustainable relationship with movement.
Tension can push - Intention can guide.
And over the long term, guidance tends to last much longer than force. Think of a conductor leading an orchestra. The conductor does not create beautiful music by gripping the baton tighter or moving harder. The music emerges from clear intention, thoughtful direction, and a deep awareness of what is needed in each moment. Our relationship with movement can be much the same.
Tension doesn't only show up in our thoughts. It often shows up in our bodies as well.
We clench our jaws, tighten our shoulders, brace our ribs, and hold our breath without even realizing it.
The irony is that when we approach movement from a place of worry or self-criticism, we often create even more tension.
Intention creates a different experience. Instead of asking the body to perform, it invites the body to participate.
Tension asks us to force change. Intention invites growth.
A Gentle Practice Can Be a Powerful Practice
We often assume that harder is better.
More intensity
More sweat
More effort
More soreness
Yet many people discover that the forms of movement they can sustain for years ultimately serve them better than the programs they can only maintain for weeks.
Intention asks:
What can I do today?
How can I support my body?
What would feel nourishing rather than punishing?
Sometimes the answer is:
a full workout
a walk around the neighborhood
ten minutes of stretching
Or simply getting up from the chair and moving
Each choice becomes a vote for the kind of life you want to create.
Movement Is Bigger Than Any One Method
As much as I love Essentrics, I don't believe it is the only way to move.
In fact, I hope my students discover many ways to enjoy their bodies.
Go hike in the mountains
Play pickleball with friends
Ride a bicycle
Take a yoga class
Enjoy Pilates
Dance
Garden
Walk by the ocean.
Explore anything that brings you joy and encourages you to move.
Movement should expand your life, not shrink it into a single activity.
What Essentrics can offer is something a little different.
It can be a place to return to.
A place to restore balance
A place to reconnect with yourself
A place to address the tightness, stiffness, and compensations that naturally arise from all the activities you love.
Think of it less as the destination and more as a home base, helping you maintain a healthy relationship with your body as you continue exploring the world around you.
Essentrics is not the destination. It is a home base from which you can explore the many ways your body was designed to move.
Choosing Intention
Like a conductor leading a piece of music, we don't need to force every note. With a subtle movement of the hand, a conductor can influence an entire orchestra because the goal is not control through tension but direction through intention. Our bodies often respond the same way. Small intentional choices, repeated consistently, can create greater change than occasional bursts of intense effort.
The next time you move, notice your starting point.
What is guiding you?
Perhaps your intention is to:
feel better
maintain the freedom to travel, create art, play music, hike a favorite trail, or keep up with grandchildren
or simply to feel more at home in your own body.
Whatever your reason, let it guide your movement.
Because while tension can create effort, intention creates a path.
And paths followed consistently often lead farther than we ever imagined.
Putting Intention into Practice
If there is one thing I would encourage you to take away from this discussion, it is this:
You do not need to do everything. You simply need to begin.
Perhaps that means:
joining an Essentrics class
taking a walk after dinner
dusting off your bicycle
returning to your yoga mat
finally exploring a hiking trail you've been meaning to visit.
The specific activity matters less than the intention behind it.
Choose something that:
supports your body
you can return to
helps you build a relationship with movement that can last for years rather than weeks.
Join Us
If you'd like to experience Essentrics for yourself, I'd be delighted to have you join us.
In-Person Classes
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:00 AM Pacific
North Hollywood
Oneness Center Class
Alternating Thursdays
North Hollywood Oneness Center for Spiritual Living
Online Zoom Classes
Tuesday and Friday at 7:30 AM Pacific
For current schedules, locations, class details, and pricing, please visit MotionalCORE.com.
Wherever your movement journey takes you, may it begin with intention rather than tension.
