This is the 3rd installment in a 3-part series by Samantha Morris, VP Digital Marketing
I’m a firm believer in two things when it comes to wellness: motion creates emotion and people are meant to be with people. Being a fitness instructor brings both together for me, which is why fitness has a special place in my heart.
Understandably my perspective is a little bit different than most because fitness is also my job, but this provides a level of accountability that doesn’t always come with personal, recreational fitness journeys. Even when I don’t feel like it, I go to class because my members are counting on me. Regardless of the type of day I’m having, or how I’m feeling, I must show up.
When first getting started you must create your own accountability, like finding someone who enjoys hitting the gym with you, which will help you get up every day and go. You can be that draw for them as well. Once you’re in it, you can’t imagine not going, but getting to that point is hard for everybody, even me.
Not only do you have to get up and show up, but you need to be on time and put in your time. You’ll always walk away feeling better. That’s the beauty of physical activity! It promotes all the good feels because it stimulates blood flow, oxygen, serotonin and endorphin production; all the great things that naturally happen in the body to make us feel alive and good about ourselves.
I’ve had numerous conversations where people have been able to pick themselves up out of a funk because they attended group fitness classes. I feel that responsibility as an instructor. Members apologize when they can’t make class. Knowing that I’m always there, makes them want to always be there. They think they’re showing up for me, but they’re not – they are showing up for themselves.
Being successful isn’t a journey that happens alone. I didn’t know three years ago that I would be doing this. I had no concept of what it took or of what it would help me see within myself. I’ve learned the most from all those I’ve encountered and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be in this position. It’s a phenomenal and fulfilling feeling to see all these amazing people around me find themselves. All I have to do is be there. I don’t have to be perfect, and neither do they.
What better position to be in when people start to realize that they had it all along? What they don’t realize is that I lean on them just as much as they do on me. What they don’t know is that selfishly it’s my therapy too, to help me get through my tough days sometimes. It’s a shared experience, a mutual, uplifting exchange, that stays with each of us as we further interact throughout the rest of our day.
I hope that you won’t be afraid to try everything and anything for your wellness. It doesn’t matter what you decide on, it just has to be something you’re comfortable with and feel good about. Because if you’re not in it, you can’t feel it or connect to it, how the heck would you ever commit to it on an ongoing basis?
Once you figure out the basics of how you’re going to fuel yourself and how you’re going to stay active, remember to track your progress too. Whether it’s a fitness tracker, an app, a journal or a calendar; book time, make time and track your time to see what you’re actually doing in all three aspects of nutrition, fitness and connectivity. Only then will you gain the perspective on where you’ve been in comparison to where you want to go in order to create a plan to build in good habits that will carry you through a success-filled and positive year ahead.
The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. None of the information presented is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This is a personal account and individual experiences may vary. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
