Turns out this was a pretty big week in my little corner of the world.
In some ways it has felt like any other week ticking by, but I have the sense that it will be one of those to look backward to with hindsight as one 'of those turning points.' I have a bubbling feeling - part trepidation and part excitement - that everything is about to change.
Here's a round-up
Weekend 28th / 29th January
Oh man, just the lovliest day ever on Saturday with my little lady. I adore these days hanging out with her, it's a joy. We drove out to Dorchester to visit the Dinosaur Museum. Recently, having unfurled many crumpled bits of A4 which come out of her school book-bag, to reveal various pictures of fossils and stegosaurus (coloured pink, purple and rainbow of course) I assumed that dinosaurs are a topic being explored at school at the mo...
After a good look at the exhibits and lots of conversations about 'which is bigger?' 'which ones eat people?' we went for lunch at one of my faves: Taste café at The Dorset museum. Just a great combo of a nice building, great healthy food and the team are always so warm and friendly.
Have you seen the hall there? I've always thought it would be a great place to do a big Pilates workshops or event!
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Monday / Tuesday
I'm rolling these guys together, because truly not much happened across these slower work-from-home days. However, I do want to just document a couple of things here do with my own wellbeing:
1 Overwhelm & Anxious feelings
Now, I am very fortunate to have gone through most of my life without experiencing much in the way of mental health issues, stress or anxiety. Over the last year or so, via some brutal mirror-holding-up, I have come to realise that perhaps the reason for that was I've never felt much emotion at all, thanks to a ravenous avoidant attachment type of personality.
Anyway, good news is I'm feeling more. Bad news is, in recent times that has come with some not-so-nice feelings. January has left me feeling a little overwhelmed with balancing my freelance marketing work, developing Kore Pilates, cost of living, co / solo parenting, all the things! Full of enthusiasm for Kore developments, I was becoming anxious about letting my marketing clients down and built it up as a bit of a 'thing' in my head.
A real highlight of my week was pushing through that 'ugh yucky' feeling and having two very positive, light, enjoyable catch ups with my clients, and managing to end the week feeling 10X lighter in my disposition.
2. 30 Day 'Pilates & Pavements' challenge
Because I am impatient, once I had decided to do this 30day challenge, rather than wait until the 1st Feb (which doesn't even have 30 days in it anyway) I would get a head start and commence it on a random Tuesday.
That means, that by the last day of January, I was already on day 8 of the wellbeing streak.
What's the premise? Every day jog a 3km (walking is cool too) and do at least a decent 30minute Pilates practice.
I wanted to do a 30 day wellbeing challenge for a few reasons:
- Commitment. The discipline and accountability works for me, especially trying to post a reel about it each day online.
- Fitness & weight loss. I just feel leaner, stronger and free-er when I'm in shape, I'm still holding onto a link mince-pie goodness ;)
- Fresh air & mood-boosting. See above overwhelm state - fresh air and movement is like magic, just gotta make sure we do it...
- The spiral effect. I've written a little more about this here, but when one thing in your 'wellbeing web' dips, everything gets dragged down. When one thing lifts, everything is lifted with it.
- Get more personal pilates practice and inspiration in. I love programming classes, it's one way of tapping into my old choreography days, but it's so fun to see what other people are doing and 'taking inspiration' (nicking some good bits!) too. I also love being challenged physically in my own practice, we all want to feel like we're getting stronger right?
So far, it's great. I'm actually finding it really easy, easier that I remember when I didn't a 3k-a-day in October even. The trickiest thing is on the days when Lyra is with me. I've worked from home in the day and then spent the afternoon with her, meaning gI have to 'cram' a Pilates class and a run win the treadmill in the garage post-8am - when let's face it all we wanna be doing is curling up in front of Zac Efron (on the tv obvs) with a cup of tea...
Goal for the remainder of the challenge: get some other Pilates classes IRL in - I'd love to go visit some other local teachers and go and partake in some other Pilates classes locally.
Wednesday 1st February
The big dayyyyyyy.
First of all I had an excellent catch up with one of my marketing clients which left me feeling reassured, relieved and motivated.
Then, a lil nervous exciting walk into town (ticking of my 3km for the day) to meet my new landlord and collect the keys to what will soon become the KORE PILATES STUDIO in Sherborne.
Following this, came my second catch-up of the day in the form of my magical, magnetic, sparkly friend Stevie. We had somehow left it way too long, but made up for lost time catching up on a good ol' personal life goss and a healthy dollop of work collaboration planning over a particularly delicious coconut soup and tea in Sturminster Newton. We're really excited to be hosting some summer events The Breeze on the beach combining some movement, some mindful workshops, some excellent food and drink and socialising. Roll on June!
The day was rounded off perfectly by a long chat on the phone to my big brother, and then teaching my Pilates class in Sherborne at 7pm. was so lovely to welcome a coupe of new faces again, and everyone was really excited to hear of the studio developments!
Thursday / Friday 3rd
The end of the week rolled into a blend of working from home, studio planning and rounding off the week as productively as possible.
I had another wonderfully supportive, open-minded, progressive, planning catch up with my other marketing client - I feel very grateful to work with such great people with great businesses (all within the wellbeing nice, so work perfectly alongside Kore Pilates)
I also managed to get in a run, home Pilates class and a decent hoover and clean around the house. I ended my week feeling smugly productive.
Friday evening, when D made his way back over to Sherborne, was marked with a little 'ahhh you got the keys this is really happening wtf okay lets go this is exciting ahhhh' celebratory pop of some bubbles in the empty studio space.
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This Week:
Grateful for: My brother calling me for a catch up
Highlight moment: Turning the key in the Pilates Studio door!
I learnt: The effect of cinnamon, protein and strength training for blood sugar (PCOS) management
I struggled with: Getting 'round to cleaning the car!!
Word of the week: change
Recommendation of the week: Someone I've followed for aaaages and is fantastic and what she does: Organic Olivia. She specialising in herbs and holistic approaches to health and wellbeing.
Signing off ✌🏻
Sarah x
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