When was the last time you tried something for the first time?
If social distancing were a sport, I’d award myself a gold medal. I am in my element as the whole world has been told to stay away. I have been the most productive, most creative, the most efficient with my time and have had the most energy since our social distancing restrictions have been applied. Humanity has forced us to set the reset button and while some people are struggling with our new way of life, I feel I’m thriving. Introverts rejoice!
If social distancing were a sport, I’d award myself a gold medal.
Whilst social connection is a necessary human desire I’m finding peace in the disconnect. Don’t get me wrong, I am in touch with the few people in my inner circle but I have found myself busy enough to not go crazy from our lack of interaction. I’ve been indulging in activities on the other side of my usual spectrum, which has made me realise when was the last time I tried something for the first time? Having dedicated the most part of my adult life to combat sports, there was little room to explore the other side of me. Until now.
You tend to get used to the ease of excelling at something or pushing harder at the familiar but when you are faced with the unknown you tend to shy away and even question your abilities. Pursuing barre has been a huge challenge and almost the complete opposite of how I used to train. My whole idea of strength shifted as I sweat profusely to keep my leg elevated for more than 30 seconds, no weights required. So why train this way when it’s not required in my sport? Apart from the mental stimulation, I believe filling the gaps in the way your body has adapted will benefit you in the long term. Barre is something I probably would have never pursued in normal circumstances but it turned out it was exactly what my body needed.
My whole idea of strength shifted as I sweat profusely to keep my leg elevated for more than 30 seconds, no weights required.
Instead of being compact, compressed, explosive and one-sided in my boxing stance, I am forced to be tall, elongated, controlled and balanced in my posture. This, I was not good at. At all! But in my struggle, I found my weaknesses and shortfalls in the way my body has been built. Instead of just accepting that this just isn’t for me, those reasons were enough. Completely blown by how difficult I was finding to execute these foreign movements, I found myself out of breath and funny enough my new workout routine.
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