Cardio is Self-Care

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught about continuous forward movement with, "We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back." While he was speaking about advocacy in and for our community, his words are just as applicable for the health of our bodies. Specifically, this health comes from keeping our bodies active, non-sedentary, and enriched with cardiovascular activity.

Admittedly, “traditional cardio,” especially running, is my least favorite type of exercise.  I don’t like it because I’m not good at it, it’s hard for me, and I find it boring.  However, when I remember that cardio also includes things I enjoy far more such as dancing, biking, hiking, rowing, swimming, and even just a walk around the block, then I get much more excited and interested–especially with a great playlist!

Dr. Amy in front of her polling location campaigning for MIssouri legislators from her District.

I’m also quite interested in protecting my heart, especially because Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.  Cardiovascular activity makes our heart more efficient and also improves blood flow to the brain which can benefit how it functions.  Sign me up for that!

Dr. King’s words also ring true for the advocacy needs in our present society.  Effective advocacy must be nimble, because political issues can move quickly, and sometimes things can change on a dime.  For example, the legislative sessions in most states are often just a few months long.  This means that the multiple steps necessary for a bill to become a law (e.g., public hearings, floor votes, etc.) must all be accomplished in these handful of weeks each year.  As lasting advancement continues to be a work in progress, individual issues require lightness on the feet and remaining ready to move.

The good thing about cardio is that you do not have to do all of it at once to get the benefits.  A general number to keep in mind is a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate (or 75 minutes of vigorous) cardiovascular activity per week, as recommended by the World Health Organization. You can break up and budget those minutes in whatever way works best for you, and you will still get the same benefits.  The important thing is to prioritize movement and reduce sedentary time in your day as much as possible.  Here are some excellent related resources: Black Women’s Health Imperative, EmPOWERED to Serve, and Go Red for Women.  And, in honor of Dr. King, here are two organizations that he championed and continue to do good work today: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and The Poor People’s Campaign.  All of these resources offer education, opportunities to get involved, and would benefit from either your time or financial support.   

Remember, prioritizing yourself is a revolutionary act, and small steps can have a profound impact. Let’s commit to thriving unapologetically—individually and together. Stay tuned for more tips and inspiration in the months ahead!

In solidarity,

Dr. Amy

This is part of Dr. Amy's Self Care Is Political Warfare series. Read the entire series here!