Recently someone said to me:

“I almost didn’t come today. Life’s just too busy right now….”

Maybe that’s relatable? Because when isn’t life busy?

Most of us feel like that now and again. Stress seems to pile up when you’ve already got loads on your plate, between caring for grandkids, managing work, health worries, or just dealing with the emotional weight of being a woman who’s spent years putting everyone else first. 

I’m a guy, so what do I know? Well for years I was like every other Teesside PT, it’s easy to dismiss someone as being lazy or unmotivated when you don’t know what’s going on. Back then I didn’t understand, I didn’t know the person’s full story or what was happening in their lives…

For many Teesside women who are over 50 doing something for themselves always ends up being last on the list. You can convince yourself ‘when things settle more’ you do something, you’ll start after this ‘busy period’ at work or ‘after the kids are back at school’. Thing is, when isn’t life busy?

Why this is important

Truth be told: Training isn’t always about showing and pushing at 100%. You can and should still train through stressful times and it’s not just your body that will thank you, it’s your mental health too. 

It’s not about perfection. There’s no pressure. Forget compassion, just focus on getting in and getting moving, literally no expectations and sometimes I find they’re the stand out sessions. Afterwards you just feel more relaxed and more mindful.

The Old Way vs. The New Way

The old way many think of fitness is as all-or-nothing. This can mean you’re always looking for motivation to always start, trying to go from no gym to 3-5x per week, eating like a rabbit which all eventually lead to burnt out, quitting, guilt and maybe self loathing.

When things get busy or life gets stressful you’ll find one of the first things to go is your new ‘health’ routine. You’ll convince yourself it’s just till things settle, but then you’re 6, 12, 18 months down the line waiting for a motivation burst.

What if you found a new way? A way where you can work around your busy life and still work on yourself. If you want to achieve results that last you need to drop all expectations and focus on just walking through the door. 

At Infinity we DON’T focus on pushing you to your limits. It’s about giving you a place to forget life stresses and just be you. Sure we can help you lose weight, tone up and feel fitter but at the expense of you burning out what’s the point?

We’re here helping Teesside ladies to build better healthier habits and routines so they continue to show up, even though life is busy, even though things are stressful. You can find out more about how we help Teesside ladies HERE.

When our members walk through the door we’ll ask whether they want to stick or twist.

STICK or TWIST?

A while ago we realised stress and life were holding some of our members back and cancelling sessions. They’d convince themselves that because they weren’t 100% they’d wait till things were better.

When life is like that the best thing you can do is show up. So we introduced Stick or Twist. This gave us an easy way to communicate the type of session each member wanted.

STICK: When you’re had a poor night sleep or stressful day and you want to just get moving.

TWIST: When you’ve feeling good and have the energy to push a little more.

As a team we always say we have an opportunity to be the best part of your day. When life is stressful, you’ve got work deadlines and everything else. Who want’s to be pushed to the limits in the gym?

Sure, for some this is blowing off steam and we can support that with a ‘twist’ but for those that just need to get moving they can ‘stick’ and just focus on destressing.

Adjust, Don’t Cancel!

Just commit to showing up, to walking through the doors. Do a shorter workout, stretching or some cardio. No one ever felt bad for moving.

Even if you can’t face the gym, go for a walk while listening to a podcast. You can walk round Preston Park, the Barrage or Wynyard Park, whatever is closer for you.

Stress and Strength Can Coexist

“Should I train when I’m stressed or busy?”

The answer is always yes. But without adding pressure on yourself. 

Training isn’t about pushing through until you break. It’s about being ok with being good enough on the days you’re not feeling it, sometimes the biggest win is simply showing. A good session can leave you feeling clearer, calmer, and more in control even if just for 30 mins.

Stress and strength can coexist. In fact, in the right environment with the right people it can be the one place where you don’t have to hold everything together. Many times our ladies felt like cancelling because of something going on in their lives, but they still came in. And after we often get messages saying they’re so glad they did.

Infinity is a space for our ladies to breathe, move, and reconnect with their body.

Final Thoughts: Training Through Life, Not Against It

Life will never NOT be busy or stressful. Showing up even when you’re not feeling is a form of selfcare and you’ll always feel better and more relaxed as a result.

The next time you have doubts or thoughts of cancelling just focus on walking through the door or switching for an alternative, going for a walk outside. 

If you’re a 50+ woman on Teesside who’s looking for more from their health & fitness Infinity could be for you. We’re dedicated to helping you work around life stresses and your busy life to unlock your health and thrive. Click HERE to learn more.