The Year of Movement
January 09, 2026

2026: The Year of Movement

A simple, cycle-aware approach to movement that supports hormones, metabolism, and long-term vitality.

While it’s often overcomplicated or approached in ways that aren’t exactly helpful, exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting metabolic health and long-term vitality. With your cycle in mind, let’s talk about why movement deserves a front-row seat in 2026—and a simple framework to fit movement seamlessly into your life.

Why Your Hormones Need You to Move

Movement is about so much more than just burning calories. In fact, we'd argue that's the least important thing it does for you! Moderate exercise acts like a signaling tool for your endocrine system. When you move your body consistently, you’re directly influencing how your hormones are produced, cleared, and communicated.

Some of the biggest benefits:

In other words, movement helps your hormones talk to each other more clearly. And when that communication improves, everything from energy to mood to cycle symptoms tends to follow.

Movement, Weight, and Metabolism

One of the most overlooked truths in women’s health: your metabolism responds better to movement than restriction. Strength training and low-impact cardio help build and maintain muscle—which is metabolically active tissue. More muscle = better blood sugar control. And this improves fat utilization and encourages a more resilient metabolism over time. Win, win, win.

This is especially important if weight feels “stuck,” despite eating well. Often, the missing piece isn’t less food; it’s more strategic movement.

PCOS, Estrogen Dominance, and Exercise

Recently diagnosed with PCOS? Movement is one of the most underrated drives to help lower insulin resistance. This is key because a more insulin sensitive body (the goal) directly reduces androgen production and improves cycle regularity. And for those dealing with estrogen dominance, movement supports lymphatic flow and liver detoxification. Both of these are essential for clearing excess estrogen from the body.

Why 2026 Is the Year We Stop Overcomplicating It

Before you write movement off because you “don’t have time,” hear this: you don’t need perfect workouts. You don’t need an hour. You don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. You don’t even need a gym membership. What your hormones respond to best is regularity and sustainability.

That might look like:
🤍 Walks—ideally, break up your steps into a couple short walking sessions throughout the day.
🤍 2-3 strength sessions per week (focusing on progressive overload)—20-30 minutes counts!
🤍 Gentle movement when you have low energy—great time for low-impact exercise.
🤍 More intensity when energy is higher—typically, around ovulation.

Start Where You Are

If movement currently feels intimidating or wrapped up in old narratives, consider this your reset. Maybe in 2026, you don’t do a 45-day “challenge” or intense program. You just commit to moving your body in ways that feel doable (given your current circumstances). Because when movement ebbs and flows with your life, not something you “start and stop,” your hormones respond more favorably over time.

Here’s to building strength, stability, and momentum in 2026…one step at a time!