Spring is like watching a symphony rather than listening to one, as every type of plant and tree takes it’s turn. Different colours, different textures, different shapes, different heights, different timing. It reminds me of the musical fountains we used to go to once a year at Wemmer Pan; such a beautiful and strong childhood memory.
Spring is part of a natural lifecycle. Plants die back and go dormant in winter. Gardeners prune and cut back to stimulate fresh growth for the new season. Things generally look pretty horrible just before spring kicks in. Then, we weed, we feed, we water and lovingly nurture our gardens back to life.
The same can be said for our bodies. Isn’t it so much easier to commit to exercise when the sun is shining and it’s not so cold? I, for one, have battled to exercise over the past few months but now I am committed, and working with a personal trainer a few times a week.
I’m loving my strength training for these reasons:
- It’s my screen-free time.
- I get to focus on one thing, and one thing only.
- I am learning (or re-learning) how to co-ordinate my body again.
- Most new thing feel hard when you first begin.
- I am learning how breath and the body need to work together for best results.
- I am activating muscle groups that have gone to sleep over time. Switching on the right muscles helps you avoid injury.
- I feel taller and more confident.
- It’s not about what the body looks like but what it feels like.
- The stiffness I feel is proof that I have put in the work.
- I am learning that you have to push through the burn which is something we generally don’t do when we are on our own and counting ourselves down.
- Sometimes having a target really helps when you don’t know where to position your body in space. I really felt unco-ordinated in the first few weeks but my trainer saying, “Aim for my hand,” gave me focus and direction.
- The more you practise the better you get. Just like anything from sport to playing music you have to myelinate the neurological pathways so that they fire efficiently. That means repetition.
- I’m enjoying the learning process – it reminds me of watching my children learning swimming or tennis strokes for the first time. You have to master the parts before you can do a fluid movement.
- I am working with a personal trainer who has had injuries herself so she is careful while still pushing me.
- I am getting stronger and that’s what’s important.
- I’m more mindful about how I’m moving.
What are you doing to refresh for spring?
Here are a few ideas of what you can do to refresh and reset for spring:
- Get back into routine with a regular wake up and bedtime
- Take control of what you eat
- Take control of screentime
- Get enough sleep
- Start exercising again
- Spring clean cupboards and drawers
- Re-arrange your furniture
- Change the screensavers on your devices
- Get out into the garden and see how things are changing
- Walk on the fresh green grass barefoot – it’s such a grounding feeling
The temperatures are warming up and the sap is rising. What are you going to do to refresh and reset?
Have an empowered week.
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