It’s a pandemic of exercise - but are you making the most of it?
Clio Wood, &Breathe Founder, gives her top tips.
First, let’s recognise how great all this movement is!
Are you doing more exercise than normal? AMAZING stuff! With restricted movement due to Covid-19, and so many more logistics to worry about, it’s tough to keep an eye on your health and fitness at the moment. Or you might be finding it less pressured (no going out? Yes, please!) but if we’ve got kids (super young or nearly off to uni!), or a job, or a house to run, or shopping to organise, or vulnerable friends and relatives to look out for…or ALL OF THOSE THINGS! It might be tough to find the time.
So: a) whatever amount you’re doing is fine. It’s an unprecedented amount of weirdness we’re dealing with at the moment, and b) a big round of applause if you’re joining in. There are tonnes of super classes going online now and that's fab.
But remember too:
If you're not in a specific class or a one-to-one, those online streams can't see you and your form won't be corrected. So if you're not a big fitness fanatic usually, do make sure that you're not overdoing it:
👍listen to your body - if it hurts, back off that move!
👍if you're developing a twinge or pain somewhere in your body - consider if you've got the form down correctly. Ask the instructor if you can.
👍listen properly to cues and watch the instructor closely
More about our retreats
👍SIGN UP TO A PAID CLASS where the PT or instructor can see what you're doing too. Our &Breathe trainers @carolinebraggPT @nickibfitness and @bearwelllife for example are offering some SUPER ones.
👍if you are postnatal, make sure you give your body time to recover before getting into fitness again - 6 week checks are still important and try to see, perhaps even via Skype, a women’s health physio before you dive back in again.
“Progressive overload doesn’t mean ALL THE EXERCISE at once!”
👍if you are menopausal or perimenopausal, your muscle elasticity and bone density as well as hormone levels are changing! Check in with someone who can advise on what this does to your exercising bodies too.
👍don't go hell for leather if you're not a exercise-y person normally! We talk a lot about progressive overload: this is when you stress the body to progress to the next level of strength and is part of a consistent and tailored training programme. It doesn’t mean do ALL THE EXERCISE at once! 😉
Are you making the most of all the fitness in the right way? If you’ve got any questions, reach out to us on INSTAGRAM or email us! No question is silly, we promise.
&Breathe Postnatal is a family wellbeing company focusing on self-care for the WHOLE FAMILY. Ask about our &Breathe postnatal, family or menopause fitness retreats today!