By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Overview: Losing her sister to diabetes motivated Sherri Braxton to incorporate movement into her daily life. She also believes movement is ministry: daily exercise strengthens body, spirit and mind.
(WIB) – Sherri Braxton doesn’t do stillness.
Since relocating to Dallas, Texas, the fitness trainer appears across social media in near-constant motion — leading a workout group one moment, knocking out pushups or planks along a park path the next. If there’s open space, she’s using it, running, jumping or finding new ways to stay in motion.
Sometimes she’s racing her husband. Other times she’s accepting a challenge from her 15-year-old son, now head and shoulders taller than her. Either way, Braxton keeps moving — and insists the rest of us should, too.
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Her argument sounds familiar to churchgoers: the body, she says, is God’s temple, and temples require care. That includes movement, discipline, and attention to what — and when — we eat. It’s a message that tends to land less comfortably during the holidays, when indulgence is practically a tradition.
Exercise is about balance, balancing movement, rest, enjoyment, and self-care. You don’t have to be an “all or nothing” person. – Sherri Braxton, Fitness Trainer
But for Braxton, exercise is about more than physical conditioning. She describes movement as a form of emotional and spiritual maintenance — a daily practice that helps manage stress and anxiety in a world that rarely slows down. The prescription, she says, is simple and demanding: move your body every day.
Braxton sat down with Word In Black for a one-on-one interview. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Word in Black: How did you find out how valuable exercise was to mental health?
Sherri Braxton: A lot of people get stressed during the holidays. My whole world changed when I lost my sister Daphne to diabetes. We were so close, and Christmas was her favorite holiday. When we were cooking and preparing for the holidays, Daphne and my mother and I would dance around the kitchen and just have fun. Now I keep moving to stay on an even keel and to help me remember her with joy, rather than sadness.
WIB: So how should we handle food on big days like Thanksgiving and Christmas?
SB: First of all, don’t decide to take the day off. Exercise early in the day like you usually do. And don’t starve all day to eat all you want at the big meal. If you have a group of people coming to your house for dinner, organize a walk before dinner. My mom used to decide not to eat for the whole day. But guess what? When you do that, your metabolism goes straight down the dumps. So it’s good to start off even eating a piece of toast. Or put some peanut butter on it. Or eat some bacon. Or a boiled egg and a piece of toast. Just eat something.
WIB: What about diets during the holidays?
Braxton: Girl, eat that cake. Ten years ago, I’d have told you to mind all the rules and stick to the diet. But I’ve grown. I’ve come a long way. I think people need to enjoy their life. I’m not advising anyone to sit around and eat chicken breast on a holiday. Or watch the caffeine. Go on and eat that cake.
WIB: And after dinner? The football games? The naps?
Braxton: Just take a short walk, not a power walk; a gentle walk. You can always find someone who’ll walk with you, just so you can get that body moving and get your food digested, where you’re not just eating and sitting down.
WIB: What should we know about exercise?
Braxton: Exercise is about balance, balancing movement, rest, enjoyment, and self-care. You don’t have to be an “all or nothing” person. When you’re just beginning, start with walking or chair exercises or even dancing in the kitchen. Always make it suit your present situation and grow from there. All movement is beneficial.