Moving to connect with others
One of the unexpected joys of movement for me has been its power in connecting me with others. Communities and friendships have formed around activities that I enjoy. Movement has connected me with people locally in-person and globally online, and I enjoy support that extends beyond training sessions themselves. As a teacher, when group movement is at its best I love seeing connections between people blossom.
Our movement practices offer great potential for powerful social connection. I’ll share some of what I’ve seen, read and learned. I’ll explore why social connection is important, how movement can promote it, and tips on a movement practice that helps social connection flourish.
No wo/man is an island…. What is social connection and why is it important?
Social connection means having positive relationships with others and a feeling of belonging. It involves both the quantity and quality of our relationships (6). These may be relationships with family, friends and our wider communities.
Like much of the animal kingdom, us humans are social creatures, biologically wired to connect with others. Whether you prefer small groups or big gatherings, connection is at the heart of our human experience. We survive and thrive with others around us that we love, trust and value.
Meaningful social connection is central to happiness throughout our lives. Proven links exist between social connection and (9)….
Lower rates of depression and anxiety
Improved self-esteem
Increased empathy
Better emotional self-regulation
More trusting and cooperative relationships
Social connection is also an important pillar of our physical health. It’s linked to
Increased longevity
Better immune system function
Reduced risk of high blood pressure
Faster recovery from disease.
In short, strong social connections are good for our health - mental and physical.
How movement promotes social connection
When we move with others, we create a moment in our day to be in company, to have fun and connect. It turns our focus from inwards to outwards.
In her book The Joy of Movement, Kelly McGonigal writes about the collective joy we experience when we move in the same space with company. We share an experience and collective joy (or torment, you might argue!) which can create a sense of belonging. This is stronger when we move in synchrony or play an interactive movement game together. We also share goals - a first pull up, entering a race, a new skill, a commitment - and bond though this shared journey towards the same goal.
As we share experiences and goals, we learn from each other and cheer each other on. We offer support through challenges and celebrate each others’ successes. We’re inspired by each other, inspire each other and laugh together. It can feel vulnerable to move our bodies in front of others. And learning new skills always involves failure, which is public when we move in a group. In these moments of vulnerability and failing with people who support and encourage us, we build trust in and connection with each other.
This shared experience - and the connection, inspiration and trust that comes with it - can extend beyond the session. The lift share, the changing room, the post-workout coffee, the walk home. The connection isn’t temporary. These connecting moments start in a session and expand into our lives. We increase our overall capacity for community and connectedness, and with that comes mental and physical health benefits.
The science behind it…
Studies show that when we move at a moderate intensity two systems that make us feel good become active. These systems produce endocannabinoids and endogenous opiates, including endorphins.
These substances help us feel good - improving pleasure and reward (3). They encourage social connection and bonding, making it easier for us to bond with others. If you’re a runner you might know this feeling as ‘the runners’ high’.
There are theories that this would have benefited our ancestors and so evolved during our 2 million years of hunting and gathering. During hunting activities they’d release these substances with two benefits
The ability to keep going for longer
Increased inclination to share prey with the community, with survival benefits for all.
Studies also show that movement reduces anxiety and stress. This may contribute too, by making it easier for us to cooperate and bond (7).
There are some interesting studies on movement and social connection. If you want to dig deeper into the science, see the sources at the bottom of this article.
Connection through movement - some ideas
There are infinite ways to move with other people! If you haven’t already found your flock try something new. Here are a few tips….
Take a walk or go for a run or cycle with a friend.
Join a sports team or sports club - netball, football, swimming, cycling, bowls.
Join movement training sessions - strength, martial arts, yoga, pilates, dance.
Ask around! You might find that a friend in your existing social group is keen to get moving or shares your goal.
Join an active fundraising challenge. Many charities organise these, both in-person and online.
If you can’t join an in-person group, connecting online can bring some of the same benefits ...
Take part in online movement training sessions - they exist for every activity.
Join a social media group that allows you to connect and talk about movement, and share and celebrate successes.
Take up an online community challenge, such as https://www.theconqueror.events/.
Through movement we can connect with those already in our lives, meet like-minded individuals, form new friendships and join communities.
The virtuous circle of movement and social connection
While this article is about how movement helps us with social connection, the reverse is also true - social connection helps us to move. Moving with others increases our pain threshold - we push harder than when by ourselves. Social support buffers the feelings of stress, pain and fatigue that exercise can bring about (2) and our exercise performance improves.
As well as working harder in the moment of exercise, studies show that our adherence - our ability to keep up a movement practice - improves when we move with others. We’re more likely to stick to a practice when we’re part of a group than when we work out solo (5).
In short, it’s a two-way relationship. Movement helps us build social connection and social connection helps us to perform better.
Don’t forget to connect - Final thoughts
As well as helping us connect with ourselves, movement can help us connect with others and increase our happiness.
The power of a group is vast. When movement is at its best we bond as we help each other move, and grow together in strength and courage. As a teacher it’s a joy to see when this connection extends beyond training sessions to greater peer support and increased community resilience. As a student it’s transformative to experience.
Of course, there are lots of ways to find social connection, and movement is one proven route to this. Being active and being part of a community are both good for our health. Combine the two for a greater beneficial effect on both.
Have you found movement is a valuable way to connect with others? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and tell me whether you agree or disagree and why.
I encourage you to find your flock - find a practice that you love doing, with people that you love doing it with!
SOURCES
1. Kelly McGonigal, The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage
2. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0256546 Social reward and support effects on exercise experiences and performance: Evidence from parkrun
3. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0136705 Social Bonds and Exercise: Evidence for a Reciprocal Relationship
4. Social Bonds and Exercise: Evidence for a Reciprocal Relationship https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0136705
5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-017-0720-4 A Social Identity Approach to Understanding and Promoting Physical Activity
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667032121000275 Approaches to enhance social connection in older adults: an integrative review of literature
7. The Effects of Physical Activity on Social Interactions: The Case of Trust and Trustworthiness
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7797884/ The impact of sharing physical activity experience on social network sites on residents’ social connectedness:a cross-sectional survey during COVID-19 social quarantine
9. http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/connectedness-health-the-science-of-social-connection-infographic/ Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connection