Hi to you all.

My fifteenth blog.

As you all know, I am a physiotherapist.

This means that I know everything about exercise, stretching, flexibility, different regimes, circuit training, boot camp, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) aerobics, Pilates, spinning, you name it, I know it!!!

Bullocks!

I actually know very little.

 

I have minimal co-ordination, no flexibility and sadly due to recurring injuries, very little muscle strength. I also have absolutely no rhythm, and as a result did not fare very well at ballet, modern dance and never made it onto the drummies (drum majorettes) team.

As a physio, I love treating patients with musculoskeletal problems and some gentle low key sports related injuries, but the minute the less- than- acute- rehabilitation is required, I shut down, break into a cold sweat, run for the hills and quickly usher my patients out and  off… to  my dear and tried and trusted Pilates or biokinetic colleagues.

I have basically never done aerobics, have not been a gym bunny ( although intermittently over the years  have had some periods of time when I would almost get excited about going to the gym), never stuck to Pilates and, in fact, the only consistent exercise that I have done over the last twenty years is jogging, and more recently mainly walking.

My body is always out of alignment, I have no symmetry, my hamstrings and calf muscles are tight , my gluteal muscles are weak, my arms are weak, and the other muscles of my  legs are weak, my abdominals do not exist, and for someone who should know and do better, it is  really  truly and utterly quite pathetic. Woe, woe, woe is me.

Over the last five years I have had a severe ankle sprain (unidentified dance injury whilst wearing stilettos after much joviality and even more bubbles), a very painful and debilitating calf strain ( a gentle tennis match), severe thoracic spinal tightness (genetic and never enough stretching) which led to a lengthy shoulder injury, a calcaneal spur (a bony growth  around the heel bone due to the ankle stuff) which caused pain every time I walked for a long distance for a year and I have intermittent cervical and thoracic pain ( occupational but probably also mainly caused by falling asleep on the couch). Recently, I have strained both hamstring muscles and have had an ischial bursitis (inflammation of a sac in my butt!!!)

A long list of injuries. So how on earth, you might ask yourselves, can she profess to be a competent musculoskeletal physio??? The mind boggles!!

Sadly, and possibly ironically, if you look at me you would probably think that I am a fairly sporty, strong, coordinated and flexible (very) young lady.

So Very Not.

I used to be strong but never ever flexible.

I was a provincial swimmer, loved netball in prep school and enjoyed some semi competitive tennis and squash in college. It all went a bit pear once I went to varsity. No matter. This is not the point of my laboured story.

However, I made decision to change and the time was now.

My very generous and loving husband took out his wallet and paid properly for a full on contract for me at an exercise class which is a workout experience that makes functional exercise fun. It is a holistic training that addresses your entire body. I had attended an introductory class a while ago with my hilarious magnificent friend, who made it seem so cool and I enjoyed every moment and it seemed easy.

Not so the second time, or third, fourth, fifth…   For So Many Reasons.

I could not follow any of the instructions for most of the muscle specific exercises even after the gorgeous young trainers demonstrated them to me at least twice. One does these exercises in pairs so sometimes, eventually, usually at the end of the exercise, I managed about two reps (repetitions, you see I know the lingo).  I struggled to put my size 8s into the metal apparatus that houses one’s forefoot on the bicycle which made me look so very uncool. Then, just as I thought it was all going to be okay, I nearly fell off the treadmill in my excitement to get to a familiar piece of apparatus. I  then forgot to move to the next station at the end of the two minutes and had patient people gently and patiently leading me to the next exercise. I could not do a plank or any abdominal exercise and I could not balance on one leg, let alone bring the other up onto a very high square block. Then just when I thought it could not get worse, I could not do any of the stretches.

However, I continued. I made more mistakes and messed up again and again. I got another minor injury but managed it and I continued.  No one judges me. The instructors are kind and caring and the young chaps are eye candy of note. I team up with different partners every time, and they are all wonderful. I am sensible and took care of my spine and peripheral joints.  I laugh at myself; I have some fun and my body is really liking this.  I still get the exercises wrong often, but that is cool. I am slowly getting a little more flexible which is so exciting. I compete with no-one and its just so comfortable.

I am growing in strength, body awareness, fitness and am really enjoying this new exercise regime. The music is amazing, the vibe awesome and its really making me feel great.

So why write this?

Guys, if I can do this, you can.  I can not emphasize enough the importance of movement and exercise at all ages and in every stage of our awesome lives.

My pennies worth of advice: –

1. Stop comparing yourself, to anyone else, their ability, their body, and their fitness level.
2. Do what you enjoy doing, not what your next-door neighbour, best friend, boyfriend, husband, sister, aunt, does.
3. Concentrate carefully and mindfully on each exercise or movement that you do and do it to the best of your ability.
4. Just move, that’s exercise in itself.
5. Be kind, gentle and encouraging to yourself
6. Focus on you and your own personal, realistic and attainable goals and aims.
7. Challenge yourself realistically.

Happy Moving, friends!!

I am going away for a couple of weeks, so will not be blogging during this time.

Take care and chat soon.

 

 

 

My fourteenth tip

Do everything with a good heart and expect nothing in return, and you will never be disappointed. This can sometimes be difficult as often we do kind things for others to make ourselves feel better, and sometimes that feeling  is reliant on a response from the person we are being kind to. It may takes= time to achieve this but when you are able to, it is such an amazing feeling.

Take care and wishing you all great mental health and wellness!