By Sara Stein
As we are faced with such a time of uncertainty and change, what are you doing to keep your mind, body and soul fit? As I have mentioned in other articles I believe personal fitness is a fit mind, body and soul, and it all goes together.
At this time we are being challenged in so many ways and being faced with many things that we have never had to deal with before. One of my favourite quotes I have heard regarding the Coronavirus is this, “This virus will affect us mentally before it ever does physically.” I am certainly not naïve to the fact that this virus is real and is spreading amongst us rapidly. I am not naïve that I could, or my kids, or anyone I know could fall ill from this. But, at the end of the day a hundred and fifty thousand people die a day, Coronavirus or no Coronavirus. During this present time we are being tested, mentally, as a community and as individuals.
People are beginning to recognize their worth and value in their workplaces and households. People are beginning to acknowledge what matters most in their lives and understanding where their energy belongs. We have been stripped of many things that used to matter so much to us, only to realize that the things we thought mattered, actually didn’t at all.
For me, and for many others, fitness is something that has remained as an absolute must in our lives. Yes, the gyms have been closed, and we no longer have the freedom to leave our homes for our daily escape. We now have to find the motivation and will within to exercise out of our own homes with limited equipment, space and accountability. These are things we now have to dig deep within ourselves to find. But, here is the thing, one major excuse we always used on our journeys was the lack of time!
And now, it’s all we have, we have all the time in the world to exercise at home and cook healthy meals. So what’s your excuse? We also have this amazing tool called social media where you can find free workouts and create your own accountability groups and come together as a community and have fun working out together. The opportunities to continue your health journey are endless. The only thing holding you back is YOU right now, and that is just the bold faced truth.
For me, my daily routine has remained the same. I still get up before my kids, do my daily schedule, read, write, work out. I am very blessed that I am still able to train my clients virtually and continue to educate my community and followers on how to live their best lives through overall health and wellness.
I have been able to connect with new people as we are all trying to navigate these global changes without answers or a vision for the outcome. As a coach I have been able to help a lot of people turn negative “WHAT IFS,” which only bring anxiety and concern, into positive “WHAT IFS,” that allow us to slow down and heal together as a community and globally. I have been able to lead and mentor people living with fear and doubt and help turn those contagious feelings into positivity, which are also extremely contagious. I am blessed with the opportunities that have formed and continue to grow and heal through a healthy lifestyle and my ability to share overall fitness with my community.
Right now we are in a storm. When it rains it pours but the storm never lasts. And from the storm, growth, new life, and new beginnings are produced. This storm may create much tragedy such as the loss of people around us and perhaps our economy, but let’s all try to focus on the new beginning we are going to be blessed with when this is all over. The new perspective we, as individuals, will have created on our lives. We are being given a time here to turn inwards and truly discover what is important in our lives. Take this opportunity and run with it. We should all remain grateful during this time.
Sara Stein is a strength and performance coach who works out of Cornell Performance Academy located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.