I feel this is timely because we have a fresh atmosphere of fear trying its best to take over people’s lives again. I like you went through lockdown, had our gym inside shut down for 21 weeks, despite it being an environment that was actively and proven to get people healthier and feel better mentally, which was and obviously is according to every scientific study, a vital weapon against this and any virus out there.
I saw many people return after lockdown, many of them came back in good shape as we worked extensively online with them, and many others despite being perfectly healthy and active before, now needed a lot of help, some couldn’t get off the floor on their own again, they came back with walking sticks and some I hear are even on walkers just to move, which the many months of inactivity in lockdown undoubtedly caused due to their inactivity and fear to even leave the house.
Doctors tell us a life of inactivity is bad, but even I was shocked on the enormous scale it happened.
I knew that mental health issues were a ticking time bomb before lockdown, but throughout lockdown have seen a tsunami of messages and people with deep problems, huge anxiety, deep worry on a daily basis and stress when they come back to the gym. That has blown me away on its own.
I tell of them although fear is around every day now and escalating, there are many tried and tested things you can do to conquer your fears, and it’s proven a lifesaver for so many.
Our socially distanced outside classes are now an enormous success, but when members started back they were anxious, full of anxiety and uncertainty, and full of doubt whether they would work, and instead of recognising all the great things that would happen, they only saw how it wouldn’t work for them. We had to stand up and lead and make it happen.
If there was one powerful example over the last few months how positive and transformational exercise could be, its in these outside exercise classes which have transformed so many bodies and minds already.
In each of our 35 classes a week, I impress on each member that with each drop of sweat they expend during exercise, it’s going to be the equivalent to one giant leap of progress, not only for their physical health, but their mental health too.
Kids who have been stuck in for 5 months I am seeing huge changes in through our classes. Adults can process this situation far easier than kids, this is why it’s vital to get your children exercising. Connecting with your children is not being in the same room and you’re on the phone and they are on their ipad, you have the ideal opportunity to exercise WITH them now, do something incredible for their physical AND mental health which is much needed and develop an even better deeper connection in these tough and pressurised times.
Kids need to move full stop and they will only feel less stressed and much better for those efforts, YOU can be the real force of encouragement and change in their lives through the gift of exercise and its endless benefits.
Each improvement, however small, means a further step out of fear and makes us far more resilient, and another jump back to normality, whatever normality means now. Our actions under adversity shape our character and we will all be different characters when this situation calms down back down to normal.
It’s in the moments of deep doubt when we are challenged that we need to stand up and fight, RUN at the things that scare us and kick fear right where it hurts through your OWN ACTIONS you know deep down will pay off in a big way.
Your family and those closest to you are looking at you and seeing how you react right now. Rise up, lead the way, stand up and come out fighting to the challenge of fear that is here right now, get your behind off the settee and be the inspiration to change all of your lives for the better.
