My 2020 Story

Daily, consistent effort

Daily, consistent effort is required to maintain fitness – certainly at the level I’m used to training at. Not exactly elite, of course – but Crossfit is tough – and 5 years in I’m pretty fit for my age (top 100 in the world for my age group last 2 years of the Crossfit Open).

Daily, consistent effort, however, is hard to maintain over time.

We have been banished from our gym for over 12 weeks now – I’ve worked out at home with dumbbells, kettlebells, TRX, barbell, bodyweight, wallball, skipping rope – and even my running shoes have had an airing. It’s been hard to maintain the daily, consistent effort!

The end may be in sight I’m hoping that when we are allowed back in the gym that daily, consistent effort will show up as fitness maintainence – althgough I suspect some loss of ability to lift heavy weights, at least at first.

Roll on gym-opening day!!

An accidental lie-in

Every weekday morning for over 12 weeks I’ve been getting in front of the camera and deliviering a zoom yoga session. Mindful movement with a positive thought for the day – breathing mixed with empowering yoga movements.

Sometimes it’s a challenge – to go from horizontal and cozy in bed to ‘in the zone’ and ready to inspire a great start to the day. Not that I’m trying to imply this is actually hard work as compared to many – after all it’s a regime I made for myself: mostly inspired by my daughter who suggested that a yoga session would be great for those who suddenly find themselves working from home – to replace, as it were, the daily commute. That’s the same daughter who hasn’t turned up to any yoga for the last 3 weeks – but I digress!

Normally our alarm goes off at 7:21am and I’m often awake before that anyway. Today, for reasons unknown, it either failed to go off or we both slept through it – only to wake at 8:15am.

Sorry folks – there’s a first time for everything. Normal service will resume tomorrow (and a back-up alarm will be set!!)

What is Inner Strength Yoga?

It’s often said that your story is what makes you different. Like many people I have loads of stories – all the stuff that shaped me to this point, the downs, the ups – the rollercoaster of life. But when I saw this question in a Facebook group last week it really made me think.

The question was – Why did you call your business what you did? Why Inner Strength Yoga?

It might be easy to imagine it’s all about the physical – core strength is a feature often ascribed to yoga. To me Dru Yoga isn’t about that – I didn’t become a Dru Yoga teacher because I needed more core strength – I do crossfit – I wasn’t seeking another form of exercise. To me Dru Yoga is about restoring, relaxing – taking time.

I chose to train with Dru becasue I loved the flowing, restorative movements. Moving slowly and feeling into the body.

Through yoga I rediscovered my inner strength .. over and beyond the physical. In me and the others who shared the 2 year teacher training journey I observed a massive energetic shift as personal strengths emerged.

Inner Strength Yoga is about rediscovering your inner strengths. Uncovering that which may have become hidden from years of ‘fitting in’. That is what Dru yoga offers my students. Hence the name.

Rain stops play

Although it was lovely and sunny for the last few weeks – in fact, to be fair, for most of the lockdown – this week has been horrid. And cold.

It’s surprising how much a run of chilly weather affects the mood.

I’ve been pretty good the whole of this 12 weeks – working out most days, yoga, staying up-beat. Today I felt flat – and fat – and cold. I want to sit in front of the TV with a fluffy blanket and a hot chocolate – and wake up tomorrow to sunshine!

I’m not sure it’s a lockdown thing – or just life. After all its fair to say that some days are better than others no matter what the external circumstances.

But for today, rain stops play. Put the kettle on..

Coming off the meds (Part 3)

I’ve been taking LevoThyroxine for over 21 years – since the birth of my son apparently disrupted my body. For many years I’ve been ‘stable’ according to my doctor – but I knew I was taking a high dose and decided to try to reduce the dose – so far with no noticeable difference to the way I felt or could perform in the gym.

This week is my third week at 75mcg – less than half of the original dose. I’ve begun to notice a slight creeping up of my weight – only small, but to me noticeable: a slight softness around the belly: and a slight reluctance of my heart rate to get up to speed during a workout.

I’ve decided to stick at 75mcg and try to find balance here before reducing further. I’m hoping with the other changes I’ve made (supplements mostly) that my body will adapt and I can move forward.

See how it goes!!

Getting the word out

There are so many options when it comes to technology – Podcasts, Website, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok – no doubt a million more.

Where to start? – I get it – go where your audience is likely to hang out – but maybe they’re as overwhelmed as I am. Where are my audience – is it worth investing time in ‘going public’ with the message (that living a linger, healthier life is within your reach by making a few simple lifestyle changes) – or should I just plod along in my own little world influencing only those I come into contact with.

It bothers me greatly when people go blindly through life just accepting their declining health as if there are no options – when often they are options.

More thought needed here I feel ..

To Podcast or not to Podcast?

Last week I did a Podcast challenge – we looked at our ideal listener, what is the podcast about, we named it along with a tagline, we considered the format and in the end a looked at the equipment needed to start such a venture.

Who listens to podcasts? – I don’t – but they say it’s a growing field. I’ve been featured in other people’s podcasts. I’m curious to know who are the listeners before I go down this route!

I came up with 2 ideas for a podcast – first one based around the subjects in my Facebook Group – the art of growing older your way, and the second option an overview of biohacking. I could get excited about either – but my question remains – who listens to podcasts?

30 today!

30 years ago today I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. After a whole day of hospital she arrived just after 9pm on a Sunday.

So much has happened in those 30 years – I think I’d barely recognise myself from all those years ago. She now lives in the Midlands where she was born and brought up – and I live in the North East of England where I retired t 2 1/2 years ago. So on Sunday we met in the middle for a socially distanced birthday celebration.

I could go on about the amazing person she is and always has been – but I’ll leave all that as a given. Looking forward to seeing her in her new home where we can get all the siblings together (there are 4 in total) and have a proper party!

30 today – my lovely daughter.

Mission – complete the course!

In January 2019 I signed up for a Level 4 Strength and Conditioning course – why did I do this?!

I left it too late to cancel – so along I went to the practical workshops. Next phase was to do the case study and attend a practical assessment. OMG – so far out of my comfort zone!

I came to a halt. Life got in the way – so I just left it. But I paid good money for this course – so recently I’ve taken it on again. I’ve sorted with a friend for her to be my case study subject and booked my assessment day (in September) – which means that i now can’t back out. Shes’ expecting results and I have 3 months to get up to speed with the lingo and the training.

Mission for the next 3 months – daily learning, application and complete this course!!

Going all High Tech!!

Expand your social channels they said – increase your audience. But you can’t just build stuff and wait for the audience to arrive – they also said.

Totally get it.

Today I’ve been focusing on my channels though – I recorded my 8am yoga session and it’s currently being uploaded onto my (new) YouTube channel – so I can send it out to a few folk who have asked for it. I guess that’s a bit of both then – I created a demand before I made the video.

And I also joined a podcast challenge – to create a podcast. My podcast will be directed towards busy women in their late 40’s who feel like their health and fitness is slipping away – they have have probably tried quite a few of the fixes that used to work for them – but are now feeling disillusioned. They are in the information-seeking phase and realising the lifestyle that got them to where they are will not serve them as they approach the menopause and beyond. As their children approach mid to late teens they are acutely aware of their own youth fading and are searching for ways to enter their fifties with a sense of optimism about their health and looks.

So I have my audiences in my head and I’m creating the extra channels to reach them/ Feeling all high-tech and accomplished today!!