One of the things I am missing the most about NYC is all of the fitness studios that I attend. Luckily I have been able to keep up with a few of them through online streaming, but it is not the same as physically being in class. As the weather gets warmer I am glad I am able to take my fitness routine outside in the sunshine. I have only run twice since being in Columbus, something I am looking forward to doing more as it gets warmer.
Being quarantined does not have to mean we completely stop trying to reach our fitness and wellness goals. There are plenty of at-home workouts to do that require little to no equipment– see post here. But there are some workouts where you do not get the full benefits without equipment. Currently, all I have is a set of 5lbs weights, a yoga mat, foam rollers, and a Theraband. When we were first quarantined I decided to purchase more equipment to use like 10lb weights, 3lb weights, and a booty band. I still want to get ankle and wrist weights. Although I am still working out almost daily, I do find it even more challenging to motivate myself. And I am someone who loves to exercise. It’s much easier to skip or put off a workout when there is another episode to watch and I am not losing money by skipping it. Still, my makeshift gym in my small studio apartment has been the stress reliever I need right now. And it does feel amazing to move and sweat. Getting new equipment will help motivate me even more to workout; it’s like buying a new dress that you can not wait to wear or a new gadget you can’t wait to play with. When a new hand weight or resistance band shows up in the mail, I immediately want to press play on a quick workout and try it. If you are like me and you need to move, and hopefully you are all finding ways to move your body, creating an at-home gym is the best thing you can do for not only your body but for your mental health as well.
Right now what we all need is a little bit of mindfulness, grounding, calm, and silence. Whether you are a pro or a newbie, meditation can help you deal with all of the noise, fear, and frustration going on in your head. And the good news is that meditating has a lot more benefits than just silencing the mind.
Although I believe women should be celebrated every day, it is wonderful that we have a day in the year completely dedicated to us. International Women’s Day is this Sunday, March 8th. There are plenty of ways to celebrate being a woman and to celebrate the women in our lives that we love. You can send flowers or simply an appreciation text to the women whom you admire and are inspired by. You can join organizations like adidas’ She Breaks Barriers. Part of this initiative adidas, along with Up2Us Sports and ATTN, is introducing a digital curriculum for coaches, mentors, and role models in the sports realm for women and girls. Although I do not play sports (anymore), I do workout a lot. For me, I want to celebrate International Women’s Day by being healthy, happy, strong, and proving that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to. I can do this by attending women-owned fitness studios or digital platforms, and purchase from women-owned wellness companies.