We bring women, communities, healthcare, research, and partners together around a shared belief: every woman deserves the opportunity to move, thrive, and live her healthiest life.
Rooted in research. Driven by community.
Building healthier futures through movement — for more than a decade, and counting.
Movement is Life was founded in 2010 by a coalition of healthcare leaders, researchers, and advocates who recognized the powerful connection between mobility, overall health, and quality of life. Together, they sought to address the barriers that prevent women from living active, healthy lives and to advance solutions that improve health outcomes through movement.
With the early support of Zimmer Biomet and the unwavering commitment of a dedicated advisory board, Movement is Life grew into a nationally recognized initiative focused on improving the lives of women through education, research, advocacy, and community engagement. For more than a decade, these leaders helped guide the organization’s vision, ensuring that women—particularly those facing barriers to health and mobility—remained at the center of the work.
In 2022, Movement is Life transitioned to an independent nonprofit organization, strengthening our ability to expand partnerships, deepen community impact, and advance our mission across the country.
What began as an effort to address disparities in musculoskeletal health has evolved into a national movement focused on empowering women and girls to improve their health, mobility, and quality of life. Over the years, Movement is Life has expanded its impact through community engagement, leadership development, health education, national convenings, innovative partnerships, and advocacy efforts that help women take charge of their health and future.
Because movement is more than physical activity—it is a pathway to health, independence, opportunity, and lasting change.
Movement is Life was founded on a simple but powerful belief: movement can change lives.
For women, mobility is connected to far more than physical health. It can influence independence, confidence, mental well-being, social connection, economic opportunity, and quality of life. When barriers make it harder to move, the effects can reach every part of a woman’s life.
The Movement Disruption Cycle illustrates how mobility and health are interconnected—and why restoring movement can create a pathway toward healthier, more active lives.
Through education, community engagement, advocacy, research, and partnerships, Movement is Life works to help women overcome barriers, build healthier habits, and take greater ownership of their health.
The Movement Disruption Cycle
Movement looks different for every woman.
It may mean recovering after surgery, managing a chronic condition, improving balance, walking with friends, playing with grandchildren, or simply maintaining the independence to do the things that matter most.
That is why we believe movement is more than exercise. It is a pathway to health, confidence, connection, independence, and opportunity.
Every woman’s journey is unique. Every milestone matters.
Movement is medicine
Movement is prevention
Movement is connection
Movement is opportunity
Movement is transformation
Operation Change San Diego, CA.
Our health is shaped not only by the choices we make, but by the communities around us. Access to healthcare, transportation, nutritious food, safe places to move, education, economic opportunity, and social support can all influence a woman’s ability to live a healthy, active life.
At Movement is Life, we believe lasting solutions are built with communities, not simply for them.
Through Operation Change and our community partnerships, we equip local women to become leaders, mentors, and advocates. Their lived experiences, trusted relationships, and understanding of their communities create connections that programs alone cannot.
We also work alongside healthcare providers, community organizations, and local partners to connect women with resources and opportunities that support healthier lives.
When one woman moves forward, the impact can extend to her family, her community, and the generations that follow.
We envision a future where every woman has the opportunity to move, thrive, and lead.
A future where women have the knowledge, resources, support, and opportunities to take charge of their health—and where communities are strengthened by local leadership, trusted partnerships, research, and innovative solutions.
Our work is about more than improving health outcomes. It is about building confidence, expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and empowering women to become champions for their own health and the health of those around them.
Every woman deserves the opportunity to write her own story of health, strength, mobility, and possibility.
Her Health. Her Mobility.
Her Power. Her Future.
We inspire possibility by sharing stories, ideas, research, and experiences that encourage women and communities to imagine healthier futures and take meaningful action.
We empower women with knowledge, resources, support, and opportunities to take greater ownership of their health—and to become leaders and champions within their communities.
We elevate community voices, evidence, and lived experiences to inform conversations, strengthen partnerships, and influence the policies and systems that shape women’s health.
Movement is at the heart of who we are. We help women discover meaningful ways to move throughout every stage of life while mobilizing people, ideas, partnerships, and communities toward lasting change.
Join a multidisciplinary coalition dedicated to breaking the “vicious cycle” of physical inactivity and health inequity.
Directly support community-based initiatives like Operation Change that work to eliminate health disparities. We also support Legacy gifts as part of your estate planning. Contact us to learn more about Legacy Gifts.
Help bridge the gap between healthcare policy and patient priorities while exploring how value is truly defined through real-life patient experiences and modern care educational resources.
