From My Pod to Yours <3
My friend and fellow trainer @kellybobellyohyes wrote about how the world feels heavy right now, and how a workout is just about the last thing she feels like doing, and I agree.
There are a lot of trainers on social media creating bodyweight options, at home videos, all ready to go for this moment. I am so impressed by and grateful for the options for everyone; I am just not one of them, despite having trained folks in this exact format for the last 5 years. I can't bring myself to, and that feels terrifying and heavy and like a lot and like I'm letting everyone down.
In the past, I've worked through similar feelings by working out so much I tore something in my hip, messed up my back, wore down a shoulder. I've covered up these feelings with both dieting and binging, with any number of mechanisms to numb my feelings, with talking nonstop without saying the thing I want/need to say.
And, I have been on that hamster wheel so many times, all to varying degrees of destruction, that despite its pull in the face of a new stressor, I'm taking the opportunity to rest and to witness my fear and to explore boundaries in a new way.
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[[It is really fucking hard.]]
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Which is what I wanted to say: most, if not all, of us are dealing with a thing we've not experienced before, at least not on this scale.
Emotions are running high, and almost all the people to whom I write and with whom I connect are caregivers, in one way or another. Most are feeling pulled to do something about all these feelings. Most often, we're doing what we usually do: shunting our own in order to give the rest of them somewhere to go. And doing that is hard, and learning how not to set yourself on fire (aka not doing that) is hard, and everything in between is hard.
Almost everyone to whom I've spoken is wondering if they're doing the right thing, being supportive in the right way. Which I think is beautiful, really.
So if you don't know what to do, and you don't feel like unballing yourself to move, or you do feel like getting as breathless as you possibly can and that feels like the only thing you know to do, or anywhere in between, trainer or coach or client or mom or partner, I see you.
I want to drop a few links to a few moments of joy and imagination and delight that have paused me mid-social-media-scroll!
A German chocolate cake by @itsholly, whose account is like a virtual food hug (she also has a pay-what-you-can ebook full of dessert recipes!).
This post features the painting that introduced me to the talented Elisa Valenti, an artist "changing the way we view women through art." Her whole account and gallery are gorgeous.
A baby hedgehog yawning post, which I found from @anpatha, who also informed me via Instagram Story that hedgehogs grow their quills mohawk-first. My heart.
John Legend also put on an entire concert from his living room last night, taking live requests from the audience (Chrissy and Luna did make appearances as well, for fellow fans).
If you're looking for more scholarly pursuits, there are 450 Ivy League courses you can take online, for free, right now.
My friend @imdrtee also shared this 12-hour spiritual jazz mix I've been checking out.
And, finally, join me at the museum: there are 12 different virtual tours and exhibits being offered by world-class museums, rounded up in this article.
Finally, if you need a little extra support, please drop me an email. We can chat (or hop on a Zoom call to chat) navigating the feelings about fitness, nutrition, your body (if you're feeling chaotic about any or all of the above, it is logical and valid), or about anything else you'd like.
Reaching out from my isolated pod to yours.
xoxo,
Steph
