Don't Get Gaslit into What Exercise is Best for You.

Why your body deserves the exercise that makes you the most happy.

At Release Physical Therapy we believe movement is medicine—but like any good medicine, it should be prescribed thoughtfully and tailored to you. In today’s world of influencer workouts, high-pressure gym culture, and even well-meaning fitness advice, it’s easy to feel like you should be doing a specific type of exercise—whether your body agrees or not. It is important for your body to move and exercise, but there is no “right” exercise and you need to find the movement that keeps you feeling good and staying active. 

So let’s talk about it: you should never feel gaslit into a form of exercise that doesn’t serve your body.

Wait, What Does “Gaslit” Mean in This Context?

To be gaslit in this case means being made to doubt your own physical experience, pain, or discomfort in favor of someone else’s narrative. This might sound like:

• “Everyone can run—it’s just mental.”
• “Yoga fixes everything.”
• “If it hurts, you’re just not doing it right.”
• “Strength training is for everyone, no excuses.”

While these statements may come from a place of enthusiasm, they can be dismissive or even harmful when applied across the board. Your body is unique. Your injury history, mobility, pain levels, goals, and lifestyle all matter. There is no universal “best” workout. If strength training makes you happy, strength train; if running makes you happy, run; if dancing makes you happy, dance.

What We See in the Clinic

At Release Physical Therapy, we often see patients who have been to the big box, insurance based, busy clinic and feel frustrated or confused because:

• You were put on the bike to ride for 20-30 minutes
• You were told pain is just weakness leaving the body
• Your prescribed movement didn’t match your goals or ability
• You were blamed for not progressing fast enough or not doing 30 minutes of a home exercise program daily
• The home exercise program you were given stayed stagnant with no progression (ie clamshells 3 sets of 10 for 6 weeks) 

We’re here to tell you: you are not the problem. The mismatch between your body and that workout is the problem. Find someone who can help prescribe you exercise that makes you feel stronger and better. 

What Should Exercise Feel Like?

• Challenging, but not painful. Some discomfort is okay; pain is not.
• Empowering, not demoralizing. You should feel proud, not defeated.
• Adaptable. Exercise should meet you where you are, not where someone thinks you should be.

If a movement doesn’t feel right, you’re allowed to stop, modify, or ask questions. Listen to your body and advocate for yourself

Our Approach at Release Physical Therapy

We tailor movement plans to you. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, navigating chronic pain, or just want to feel stronger without injury, our goal is to help you move better in ways that feel safe, effective, and enjoyable.

We might recommend:

• Low-impact strength training instead of high-intensity workouts
• Mobility over stretching 
• Mobility and stability drills before heavy lifting
• Activity-specific rehab if you’re returning to sports
• A totally different kind of movement you didn’t even consider (like pilates or functional strength training)

And we’ll always check in: How does this feel? Is anything hurting? Are we meeting your goals?

You never need to justify what does or doesn’t feel good in your body.

If someone tells you that “everyone should” do a particular type of exercise, that’s your cue to pause. What works for them may not work for you—and that’s okay.

Need help finding the right movement for you? We’re here to help. Schedule an evaluation at Release Physical Therapy today to get started and don’t feel gaslit in to being a runner, a lifter or a yogi (unless that’s what makes you happy!)