Apparently, we had lost it.
A few months ago, my husband and I decided it would be a good idea to start training at Iron Sports, a Ninja Warrior gym that has sent quite a few competitors to American Ninja Warrior.
Don’t be impressed.
I do NOT suspect either of us will be competing on national television anytime soon. 😂
When we started, we could barely hang from a bar, much less swing across one or knock out pull-ups during the group warm-up.
It was humbling.
Actually, it was embarrassing. 😂
We had officially become living proof of the saying:
If you don’t use it, you lose it.
And friends…
we had lost it.
Your Body Needs to Be Used
Nothing dramatic happened to either of us.
We simply stopped doing certain things.
We weren't hanging from bars.
We weren't pulling our body weight.
We weren't stretching very much.
We weren't regularly asking our bodies to move in ways that required balance, flexibility, grip strength, or agility.
And slowly, without really noticing it, our bodies had gotten a little…
rickety.
But then something interesting happened.
A few months of consistently asking our bodies to do more, and we were hanging, swinging, stretching, climbing, and doing pull-ups.
Are we Ninja Warriors?
Absolutely not. 😂
But we are stronger.
We're more flexible.
We move better.
And things that felt almost impossible a few months ago now feel much more normal.
That has been such a good reminder for me:
Our bodies were made to MOVE.
Movement Is About More Than Exercise
Life gets busy, and it's incredibly easy to reduce “movement” to walking from the car to the grocery store and carrying twelve bags inside at once because apparently making two trips is a character flaw. 😂
But everyday movement matters.
Our muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments are designed to move. And as we get older, maintaining strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and mobility becomes especially important for staying active and doing the things we enjoy.
That doesn't mean you need to become a gym rat.
It doesn't mean you need to train for American Ninja Warrior.
And it certainly doesn't mean you need to spend hours exercising every day.
It means we need to keep asking our bodies to do things.
The “Use It or Lose It” Principle
Think about what happens when you stop doing something for a long time.
The first time you try it again, it may feel awkward.
Maybe your balance isn't what it used to be.
Maybe reaching overhead feels stiff.
Maybe getting down on the floor isn't as easy as it once was.
Maybe your grip isn't what it used to be.
Maybe climbing stairs leaves you thinking, Well, that was humbling.
That's not necessarily a reason to give up.
It can be a reason to start using those abilities again.
Our Iron Sports experience reminded me that our bodies can adapt when we consistently challenge them within our abilities.
What feels difficult today may feel surprisingly normal after you've practiced it for a while.
You Don't Need a Ninja Gym to Move More
Here's the good news:
You don't need a Ninja gym.
You don't need an elaborate workout plan.
You don't need fancy equipment.
You just need to start using what you've got.
Take the walk.
Stretch while you're watching TV.
Get down on the floor.
Practice getting back up.
Hang from something that's secure and appropriate for you.
Lift something.
Dance in your kitchen.
Do a few squats while you're waiting for your coffee.
Reach.
Bend.
Push.
Pull.
Walk.
Stretch.
Play.
Move.
The goal isn't to prove how athletic you are.
The goal is to remind your body that you're still planning on using it for a very long time. ❤️
Today's Tip: MOVE YOUR BODY
Today's tip is simple:
MOVE YOUR BODY.
I especially love the agility tips from Vanja Moves, because they make movement feel practical, playful, and approachable.
You don't have to do everything.
Pick one thing.
Take a walk.
Try some gentle mobility exercises.
Practice your balance.
Strengthen your legs.
Work on your grip.
Stretch.
Dance.
Just move a little more than you did yesterday.
And if you're starting something new, start where you are and progress gradually. Your body doesn't need you to prove anything. It needs consistency.
What I Use to Support an Active Lifestyle
Of course, movement is the foundation. Products can simply be part of the routine surrounding it.
AgilEase for Joint Health
I like keeping AgilEase next to my coffee maker as a reminder to take it with breakfast, following the product directions.
AgilEase is formulated with ingredients including Frankincense, Clove, and Copaiba and is designed to support joint health, flexibility, and mobility.
For me, it's a convenient addition to the rest of my active-lifestyle routine.
But no supplement replaces the actual work of moving your body.
That's still our job.
Ortho Sport Massage Oil After an Active Day
After a day when I've asked a little more of my body, I also like Ortho Sport Massage Oil as part of a soothing massage routine.
It combines vegetable oils with essential oils including Oregano, Peppermint, Thyme, and Wintergreen and provides a cooling sensation when massaged onto the skin.
Follow the product's label directions for topical use, and remember that essential oils and products containing them aren't appropriate for everyone.
For me, it's one more little signal that the active part of the day is over and it's time to take care of my body.
Start Where You Are
Maybe you're reading this thinking, “Terri, I can barely get through the grocery store without my body complaining. You're talking about hanging from bars!”
I hear you.
I'm not suggesting everyone needs to start climbing, swinging, or doing pull-ups.
Start where you are.
If walking is where you are, walk.
If stretching is where you are, stretch.
If you need to work on balance, start there.
If getting up and down from the floor is difficult, that's useful information—and something you can work on safely and gradually.
Your starting point doesn't matter nearly as much as continuing to move forward.
Because the goal isn't to become a Ninja Warrior.
It's to remain capable of doing the things you want to do.
For a very long time.
What Part of Your Body Complains First?
We all have that one spot, don't we?
The neck.
The shoulders.
The knees.
The lower back.
Or maybe the entire body sends you a group text when your schedule gets too busy. 😂
What's the part of your body that always tells you the schedule is packed?
I'm curious where everyone else feels it first.
To staying loose,
Terri
Terri
My husband and I go to bed a solid TWO HOURS before our teenagers do.
We’re done.
They are not. 😂
Apparently, 9:00 p.m. is when teenagers suddenly remember they’re hungry, need to wash something for tomorrow, want to tell you a 17-minute story, or become extremely productive.
And this has been true for each of my 11 children!
Meanwhile, their dad and I are fluffing our pillows and preparing to call it a day.
But just because I’m going to bed doesn’t mean I stop mothering.
IYKYK.
I encourage bedtime in all my subtle little ways.
The lights get dimmer.
The house gets quieter.
And I put calming essential oils in the diffusers.
Basically, I’m sending one giant aromatic message throughout the house:
People. It is time to wind this operation DOWN. 😂
Nobody is forcing four teenagers into bed anymore. Those days are long gone.
But I can set the atmosphere.
Why a Calming Bedtime Routine Matters
Our environment can become part of our daily routines. The same lights, sounds, activities, and even familiar scents can become cues that it's time to transition from one part of the day to another.
Think about how quickly you know it's bedtime when the house is quiet, the lights are low, and you're already in pajamas.
You don't necessarily need someone standing over you saying, “It's bedtime!”
The environment is already telling you.
That's the idea behind creating a consistent bedtime routine for teens.
Instead of another reminder, lecture, or countdown, create an atmosphere that helps everyone start winding down.
Today's Tip: Create a Consistent Bedtime Cue
Diffuse the same calming blend between dinner and lights-out every night for two weeks.
The goal isn't to make an essential oil magically make your teenager sleepy.
It's to create a consistent evening cue.
When the same aroma becomes part of your family's nighttime routine, it can simply become associated with that transition from busy evening activities to a calmer part of the night.
And honestly?
That can be helpful for Mom and Dad, too.
Because we could all use a little help winding down.
How I Use Essential Oils for Our Evening Routine
Peace & Calming II for the Whole House
I like putting Peace & Calming II Essential Oil Blend in the living-room diffuser about an hour after dinner.
The blend includes Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, German Chamomile, Vetiver, and Northern Lights Black Spruce.
For me, it's all about creating a welcoming, peaceful evening atmosphere.
Five drops in the diffuser, and the house starts feeling a little different.
The lights are lower.
The noise is coming down.
The diffuser is going.
And I'm quietly communicating:
We're winding down now, people.
No announcement necessary. 😂
KidScents SleepyIze for a Bedtime Cue
KidScents SleepyIze is another blend I like incorporating into a nighttime routine.
It contains Lavender, Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, and other essential oils and is designed to complement a calming bedtime routine.
I especially love the name.
Because let's be honest—sometimes the name itself is half the fun.
“I'm breathing SleepyIze… I guess I'm getting sleepy.” 😜
You can use it according to the product label, including appropriate topical or aromatic use.
You Don't Have to Force the Transition
One of the things I love about this approach is that I'm not trying to control every minute of my teenagers' evening.
They're getting older.
They have more independence.
And bedtime isn't the same with teenagers as it was when they were little.
But I can still influence the environment.
I can make the house quieter.
I can dim the lights.
I can turn on a calming diffuser.
I can establish routines that signal, “The day is winding down.”
And then I can go to bed.
Because at some point, Mama needs her beauty sleep, too! 😂
Try a Two-Week Bedtime Experiment
If bedtime at your house tends to turn into a nightly negotiation, try keeping it simple.
For two weeks, choose one calming aroma and diffuse it at roughly the same time each evening.
Pair it with other predictable cues:
- Dim the lights.
- Lower the volume.
- Put away stimulating activities.
- Start the family's normal bedtime routines.
- Give everyone some quiet time.
- Keep the timing reasonably consistent.
You're not trying to create a perfect bedtime.
You're creating a predictable transition.
And sometimes a predictable transition is exactly what a busy household needs.
What Made Bedtime Easier at Your House?
Every family figures out its own little tricks.
Maybe it was a particular routine.
Maybe it was turning off the Wi-Fi. 😂
Maybe it was dimming the lights.
Maybe it was simply realizing that teenagers are going to find 14 things to do at 9:00 p.m. no matter what you say.
For us, I'm happy to let the atmosphere do some of the talking.
What's the one thing that finally made bedtime easier at your house?
Hit reply and tell me. I love hearing what other parents figured out about bedtime!
