By Laura Hedges, Hot Club Yoga
2020 not quite the year you had in mind? We were-n’t expecting it either, but with everything that happens there are lessons to be learned! If this year has taught us anything (we actually have 3 things) it is that resilience, health & wellbeing have never been more important. Let’s look at these words in a little more detail…
Resilience: “The ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going in the face of adversity”. Certainly fitting for this year.
Health: “The state of being free from illness or injury”. Yes, however it is not just about prevent-ing sickness or avoiding an injury. Health is a state of total physical, mental and social-wellbeing.
Wellbeing: “The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy”. Yes, however like health, it goes deeper than just feeling this way at a particu-lar moment in time from day to day. Overall life satisfaction, a sense of belonging and purpose, feeling in control. All of this relates to your overall wellbeing.
Resilience in terms of your health and wellbeing is always important, even more so during a pandem-ic. We should all be proud of how we have adapted, and continue to adapt, to ever changing restrictions and guidelines. Almost overnight we changed the way in which we work, shop, live, socialise, commute and exercise, but going through this change and uncertainty is proof that being forced into something new and unknown can be a positive thing.
2020 has been tough for the fitness industry and like everyone we have had to show great strength to get through it! Gyms and studios were forced to close and we had to seek new ways to help our members keep active, motivated and feel mentally positive. Although we were unable to provide a venue for members to come and escape to, we
provided our group exercise classes online. The Thames Club & Hot Yoga Club live streamed eve-ry day during both lockdowns and now continue to provide an on-demand platform of content. When our doors eventually re-opened, an over-whelming number of members said that although online clas-ses will never be the same as being in the club or the hot studio, we had kept them physically and mentally strong during lockdown and helped them get through some really tough times. Keeping our community alive and ensuring our members stayed active and had access to the ‘time-out’ that we all so desperately needed was so important, and as we continue to welcome old and new members into the club, it is our priority to ensure everyone feels safe and supported and leaves feeling amazing.
2021 will bring some more uncertain times no doubt, but one thing that is a certainty…we must stay resilient and we must prioritise our health & wellbeing.
So, we finish by asking you a question…is there a better investment than in your health and wellbe-ing? Just think about it for a moment. When you really think about it, there is nothing else more important. And when we say investment we don’t just mean financial, it is also about time. The return on your financial or time investment (if spent in the right places doing the things you enjoy), will be the best you’ve ever had. As a new year approaches, find something you enjoy doing and keep doing it. Make time, set realistic goals and be consistent…it will pay dividends and your mind & body will thank you.
2021 is the year to make time for you. Come and join us on Wheatsheaf Lane in Staines at the Hot Yoga Club or at The Thames Club. Alternatively exercise with us online at www.hotyogaclub.co.uk or www.thethamesclub.co.uk.