Susie's Story
"...I've always been active, taking part in team sports and individual exercise throughout my life however since having children 4 years ago I've struggled to find any free time or motivation to exercise.
I have a 4 year old and an 18 month old and I'm self employed working from home, mainly in the evenings. When I don't have my children I'm working at my desk so it's been difficult to make time for me!
Probably the biggest factor for me starting Yoga again was so that I could escape everything that is under my roof….my work, the housework, the kids, my partner, my list of things to do…and have an hour where I focus on just me and my body and my mind. I can switch off completely and it's bliss.
In the past I've joined the gym to lose weight and have been motivated by looking good but this time it was much more about myself and my mind and my space.
At the start of this year I saw the #ThisGirlCan advert on the TV and it caught my attention straight away. I found it inspiring, powerful and motivating. The next day I phoned up a sports centre and started up a membership, the day after that I went for my induction, the following Tuesday I went to my first yoga class. In the past I'd been making excuses not to find time but the advert just made me sort myself out and find a way.
As well as Yoga I also do Pilates and if I get the opportunity I use the gym equipment. When a yoga class was cancelled one week I used the opportunity to use the gym and found that where as in the past I would have felt self conscious about being the only female in the gym this time I didn't care at all, in fact I felt quite proud of myself. I had the images from the #ThisGirlCan advert in my head and smiled to myself.
I would like to make more time to exercise and I'm keen to combine the Yoga with a more physical form of exercise, perhaps running or Body Combat (both of which I've enjoyed in the past pre children).."
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