The Shape of Things
“You're not just built to move, you're built by how you move." — Joan Vernikos
Highlighting my nerd-girl roots once more, I was recently pondering one of the oddest creatures you might encounter while playing Dungeons & Dragons: the infamous gelatinous cube.
As its name suggests, it is little more than a giant living cube of translucent goo. Somehow, despite being an oversized block of dungeon Jell-O, it is surprisingly dangerous. It absorbs and consumes nearly everything in its path and, perhaps most importantly, it is perfectly shaped for the dungeon corridors it inhabits.
Without getting too nerdy about how such a creature might have evolved into that shape by adapting to its environment (too late?), it serves as an extreme example of a larger truth:
Living things are shaped by what they repeatedly do.
While early theories that acquired traits were passed down genetically turned out to be incorrect, within our own lifetimes we absolutely are shaped by our habits, movements, environments, and behaviors.
Think of a boxer, a swimmer, and a dancer. After years of training, each not only performs differently, but looks different. Specific muscles develop, movement patterns emerge, and their bodies adapt to the demands placed upon them.
The same thing happens when we stop moving.
Someone who spends years sitting can begin to resemble their favorite chair. Hence the term “couch potato.”
Look around and you’ll also notice the modern “computer hunch” or the cell phone “shrimp posture” created by hours spent looking downward at screens. Sometimes I wonder how long it will be before the humans in WALL-E stop looking like satire and start looking like a documentary. And if we’re not careful, perhaps a halfway step toward becoming a gelatinous cube.
The good news is that these shapes are not permanent.
Small changes create immediate benefits, and over time can dramatically reshape both body and mind.
Take movement breaks throughout the day. Walk more. Stretch. Practice yoga. Change positions frequently. Spend time on the floor instead of always sitting in chairs. Reach overhead. Squat. Climb. Carry things. Breathe deeply.
If you already move regularly, fantastic. If you’re like me and have never mastered the art of sitting still, congratulations.
Just don’t make the mistake of becoming overly adapted to a single form of movement.
Recently I discovered that despite being able to complete 101 burpees in 11 minutes and 21 seconds (yes, I time myself), a simple five-minute stretching routine I wasn’t familiar with left my glutes and quads sore in entirely new ways.
Apparently my body had found a few unexplored dungeon corridors.
If you’re a boxer, add some dance. If you’re a dancer, try shadowboxing. If you’re a runner, climb something. If you’re a lifter, spend time on mobility.
And if you’re truly unsure where to begin, tap into the wisdom you had naturally as a child:
Play.
Run. Jump. Skip. Climb. Balance. Explore.
Move not just with purpose, but with curiosity.
Let’s all take a step back from becoming gelatinous cubes and choose to move more, move often, move differently, and above all, move with joy.
— Ariel
Eos Coaching
About Eos Coaching
Eos Coaching is rooted in the practice of making the most of today. Through functional wellness, performance coaching, and reflective practice, I work with individuals who want to build strength, clarity, and consistency without burnout.
This Substack is an extension of that work. A place for field notes, reflections, and practical tools that support steady progress and self-trust.
You can learn more about my coaching work or subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter, Reflections, at eoscoaching.us.
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