My 2020 Story

The teenager comes to Crossfit

Finally basketball is back on – so the teenager can get to training – although it’s only once a week. The other day when I picked him up from training he was asking me about crossfit.

I’ve done crossfit for over 5 years now (I should be good at it, right?! – I do my best..). Every year they have an online worldwide competition in which you do a workout every week over 5 weeks, log your scores and get placed in a league table relevant to your age both in your location and worldwide. The top 200 in the world get to do online qualifiers – in which you get to do a further 5 workouts over 4 days one weekend. For the last 2 years I’ve got through to that stage and finished in the top 100 worldwide for my age group.

So he was asking me about that .. then asked if he could come along to try it out.

So yesterday he had his first attempt. There was a technical part in which he was shown cleans (unfortunately not the sort involving bedroom floors and dirty dishes) and a workout with Toes to Bar and box step-overs carrying dumbbells. I do realise that makes no sense unless you’ve tried crossfit!!

He loved it though – result!!

Long purple hair

When is it not OK the have long hair? I guess for various reasons it’s considered ‘not OK’ by some once a woman gets ‘to a certain age’. Is that an old-fashioned view?

For sure our hair gets thinner as we get older – less of it. Courser in texture. Greyer (and that’s a decision all on its own!!). Is it possible to retain long, luxurious locks as we age?

Diet, styling, not over-colouring, supplements, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, drugs), stress, hormone balance: all of these plus no doubt several more are to be considered in order to keep hair at any age in the best condition. Perhaps as the years go by too many of the lifestyle facotrs have taken their toll and the hair looks past its best if it’s left to grow long.

I’m thinking over ‘lockdown’ many of us have left our hair to its own devices for longer than we might otherwise have done – longer, greyer.

Have you changed your mind on how to maintain your hair in the months hairdressers weren’t available? IMHO – it’s OK to have long hair whenever you choose to. And it’s also OK to be grey – or purple.

Coming off the meds (part 8)

So I thought about this – despite being pretty cross with the way the Dr spoke to me I considered my position.

Down from 175mcg to 25 over the course of 3 months is actually pretty drastic – after 21 years on thyroids meds. I was devoping a few symptoms – very low heart rate, some build up of fluid/(maybe even fat) around the middle, tingling in my arms and fingers. I didn’t fancy hair loss – maybe its started?

So I went straight back up to 100mcg.

The results so far (5 days or so in) – resting heart rate is now mid 50’s – nearer normal. During a workout (which are still going as normal) it doesn’t drop like a stone back to 70 as soon as I stop. I can even stay awake in the evening later than 9pm.

I’ve been back to seen the kinaesiolgist and the herbs and treatments are still supporting me. In fact I’m feeling pretty good. So 100mcg it is for a while. Let’s give it a few weeks and get restested…

Revisiting an old skill

Knitting. I used to knit like it was going out of fashion – maybe it was!

In my first job (as a school dentist) we had loads of downtime – I used to get a solid 2 hours in every day. I loved a challenging piece – I tackled numerous (very 80’s style) outfits from the World Wildlife Fund’s book of knitting. Ah yes – polar bear jumper, poppies, a tiger cardi – I had them all. When my first daughter waas born she had hand knitted booties and a couple of full body outfits (one in pink although I hadn’t confirmation that I was having a girl – I just felt it to be so).

Then life took over. The knitting needles went into retirement. They survived a few house moves and made it 200 mile up the road to be laterly housed in a box in the conservatory.

This weekend I cam across a pattern for a beanie – the inspiration hit like a tonne of bricks. Out came the bag of needles – 4.5 regular ones – check: 5.5 circular – check: 4.5 double ende d – check. Monday morning and I diverted to the wonderful RingaRosies in Whitley Bay. A knitters paradise. The smells, the colours – Barbara, the owner, hand dies her own wool. She’s also a some-times visitor to my yoga class. Buzzing with excitement I selected a ball of Arran in greys, purple, orange, blue – truly fabulous.

And off I went. Lets see how ling it takes to complete 🙂

Feeling Inspired

Do you ever get those days when you feel totally inspired? I wrote a blog a couple of weeks ago on my website called ‘Unpeeling the Onion’ https://innerstrengthyoga.co.uk/lifestyle/unpeeling-the-onion/

It’s about my journey through life – and how the last few years have been all about incovering the inner me – the one that got buried under piles of rubbish that life threw at me.

Over the weekend I came across ‘The Hero’s Journey’ – a metaphor for life and the basis for many great stories and movies. I put the two together – and was shicked at how my life could be represented in story in this format.

When I was at school we wrote stories with a beginning, a middle and an end – in this format it’s more a circle. A home, a journey and a lesson brought back to the start. In my case exactly to the start – as I’m now living back on the estate where I lived as a teenager and went to school.

And the lesson I’m bringing back? – the journey to trust the Inner Self – she’s always been there. This is what I’m here to bring to the world. Watch this space.

Missing 8am class

I’m missing teaching my 8am class. One week into my 2 weeks off.

I’m missing getting out of bed feeling creaky and half an hour later feeling like I’m ready to take on the world. I guess I could do it on my own – but there’s something about getting up and having to present yourself to the world.

Sometimes I’m up and ready – other times I’ve dragged myself down to the conservatory and put a smile on my face to greet whoever logs in first. Always by the end I feel in a much better place. Mentally and physically.

The 8am class is there for anyone who wants to start their day with some simple movement – to move the spine and awaken the energy there-in. To move the joints gently and slowly, to breathe into the body – and to end class ready to face the world.

So next Monday I’ll be back online at 8am – no charges, I’ll post the link on my Facebook page on Sunday https://www.facebook.com/innerstrengthyoga/

Join me – keep me company: let’s start our days on a better, smilier note

Staycation 2020

Staycation: a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation.

Pretty much the situation as it has been for the last several months to be fair – only this time without work (even though for me that ‘work’ comprises of getting in front of the camera a few times a week to teach yoga.

Today Google kindly showed me photos of ‘this day a year ago – 2 years ago – 3 years ago and 6 years ago. On every one of those I was on holiday with my son(s) – Menorca, Majorca, Ibiza and North Devon respectively. So inspired by that I went for another walk from my doorstep around the local area. Ice cream in hand as we left the house, a six mile stroll along an old railway route, via Delaval Hall and through Seaton Sluice to return throuh Holywell Dene.

I am so lucky to live in this beautiful area – and that the threatened thunder storms have (so far) given us a wide berth.

Staycation – no problem – love where I live.

Coming off the meds (part 7)

Blood results today via a call with my GP.

Well that went well – not. First – he wasn’t impressed that I didn’t know who he was (the founder of the practice and had been there 40 years). Second – he was really not pleased I’d reduced the meds without any advice. Third – he’d never seen such off the scale blood results – indicating my hypothalamus was screaming at the thyroid to wake up.

He told me to up the dose to 100mcg and have another test in 6 weeks- plus a cholesterol test as my levels were high from a previous test (no mention that the good:bad ratio is better than good).

No asking how I’m feeling – which despite my resting heart rate being low, my blood pressure is also low and only minimal weight gain (1kg – which could be attributable to anything) – plus my gym performance no worse and in parts better that before I reduced the dose. Mentally feel fine – though I like to sleep a lot sometimes I’m feeling pretty good -and certainly not as if I should be making changes.

For only the reason that the weight gain is one I want to avoid I have upped back to 50mcg from 25mcg – and won’t be ordering any blood tests atm. I’ll think about it grrr.

What if they forget me?

It struck me yesterday that I was feeling somewhat drained. As soon as I left in-person teaching back in March I went straight online.

I did that those who’d travelled the distance and made improvements to their health with Yoga for a healthy back along with my regular classes – and particularly the Cancer Survivors community. Some came every week, some had a week or 2 off here and there. Some didn’t join at all saying they didn’t fancy doing yoga from hoem via a screen (and I cmpletely get that – I don;t enjoy going to dance class via zoom and so I just don’t go).

Now that work has restarted some have gone back to work or find themselves being the childcare option for their grandchildren. All totally fine. I’ve had loads of messages of thanks for the continuity and regular support. I am blessed to have been able to help.

But for the next 2 weeks I am not teaching. Yes there was a fear – maybe they would forget me and not want to come back, Maybe they’ll miss me like crazy. Maybe in 2 weeks the world will look completely different (again). But when, amongst my random thoughts. I saw this quite yesterday it rienforced my intent. 2 weeks off it is – starting Saturday.

In Need of a Holiday

How can that even be? I only do a bit of teaching from my conservatory.

Just over a week ago my 21 year old son reappeared – he’d been staying with friends duirng his break from universiy and is working in the bar at the local caravan park. He’s full of energy – so much energy it’s making my exhausted. Exhausted enough for me to think I need a holiday.

Teaching is a routine I’ve come to enjoy very much during this perios of ‘lockdown’ – or whatever wr’re calling it now. Perhaps the ongoing high-level gaslighting is acusing me some stress too.

But the fact is I need to take a break for a couple of weeks. Interestingly I came across one of those online quotes which said that the thing you’re most afraid of is the thing you need most. Perhaps I am afraid that when I come back that no-one will want to join in. It’s a risk I’ll have to take I think.

So from Monday I’m ‘on holiday’ – we’ll call it a Staycation. And why not?!