Embracing Mindful Movement with Malibu Moves
A Personal Insight from the founder, Erica Segel
Hello, Malibu Moves community! It's Erica Segel here, and today I want to share a personal reflection that might resonate with many of you. As I was doing some gentle Pilates today, I couldn't help but think about how my relationship with fitness has evolved over the years. Now in my late 30s, I view movement as something that improves not only my physical health but also my mood and mental well-being tremendously.
Your Race. Your Journey.
Malibu Moves is a safe space to explore movement in a way that empowers and celebrates you, no matter where you are on your journey.
The Shift from Intensity to Intention
There was a time when I believed that unless I exhausted myself and 'gave it my all,' my workouts weren't good enough. The culture of 'no pain, no gain' was deeply ingrained in me. But that sense of having to perform at the top in every single area of my life—professional, personal, and even in my fitness—was unsustainable. I went through periods of high-intensity training followed by total burnouts and often injuries that set me back months.
Now, I approach everything I do as an opportunity to elevate and support how I feel, not to punish my body. I try to honor my needs, whatever they might be, and as a woman, I've also become aware of how to respect and take into account cycle syncing for my fitness. This new approach has renewed my love for fitness and turned out to be the best approach for me. I feel more energetic and healthy, and my levels of cortisol have decreased.
Overcoming the Guilt and Embracing Self-Celebration
However, I still struggled with an innate sense of guilt that I wasn't doing enough, and that I was lazy. Every time I opened Instagram, I would see fitness influencers working out and doing remarkable things, and I felt less and not up to the standard. But why? I realized that I needed to disconnect from this toxic content and reevaluate my role models.
It also led me to reflect on the difference between having goals, being accountable, and staying disciplined, versus having those expectations turn into negative self-talk and toxic comparison. I feel that we need a lot of courage to really trust ourselves and celebrate our achievements, no matter how little or how big, and especially without always measuring against the fakeness of social media.
The Mission of Malibu Moves
That is why I founded Malibu Moves. With the clear mission to create a safe space for people to explore movement in whichever way it serves them best and to feel empowered and celebrated for it. No matter your journey and your levels, Malibu Moves will support you and inspire you in your journey.
And to further this mission, I'm excited about our upcoming 5K, Half Marathon and Kids Run taking place on October 26-27th along the famed Pacific Coast Highway right in the heart of Malibu. Join us for a memorable experience, and remember, at Malibu Moves, every move you make is a step towards a healthier, happier you.
With love and encouragement,
Erica Segel
