I have had to learn to walk 3x in my life
The first time I learnt to walk I don’t really remember. Mum says it was pretty cool - thanks mum for helping me out the first time round!
The second time was after brain surgery. Things were pretty different with weird pressure changes and a lack of a tennis ball tumor in my head: would it equalise, would I be able to walk soon? But it was all pretty fascinating - you know the whole second chance at life thing! (And qualifying for the nyc marathon in the midst of it was pretty much a show stealer!).
This third time is now: acl, pcl and a sub-luxed patella, as a result of a climbing accident (did I mention I love climbing, met my husband climbing, that’s it is my life!). It’s a mega setback, progress is slow and it’s hard to feel so capable yet so unstable. I feel grateful for my unwavering drive to get back to competing again and just trying that little bit more, but it’s often just not enough?! How we move declares: THIS IS WHO I AM. It's not just about performance-it's an expression of identity. And it’s a BIG change!
Please, don’t get me wrong: I feel I’m well past my need to prove myself phase; I’m more in the need to improve myself! And my solution? I’m gonna to get back to ‘movement’ not ‘exercise’ (https://www.fitbynature.org/blog/exercise-or-movement-practice) where I can flow all my training exercises and upleveling them each time I go, just like we progressively overload our exercises.
Why? "Exercise is a human invention, necessary because modern life restricts natural movement." (@drandreospina). I feel we’re living in a world where we’re told what to do, rather than being empowered to listen to and connect with our own bodies.
My mission to help people connect to their current body, in all its glory and find a way to just begin. To begin to move in a way that feels good, is enjoyable and actually serves your life in a positive way. Because movement literally can change you. It can change your mindset, your mental health, your physical health, your internal alchemy and your external appearance. Movement can enhance, encourage and inspire you to live true to you.
Even after our sport era ends, movement continues to shape identity. Losing movement-through injury or restriction-can feel like losing part of ourselves. Luckily there’s a million ways we can go about it, the trick is to find something you feel inspired by, something that is fun and something that you can incorporate into your everyday.
You body is not just how you act-it's how you perceive. Move more; see more, feel more, be more!
