“It’s ok not to be ok.”
Have you seen people posting this on Facebook, other social media or sending it as a message? What’s it all about?
For me, it’s all about being open; whether it’s telling someone how you are feeling or listening to someone who needs to talk to you.
For too long mental health issues, whether chronic or acute, having a major impact on life, or a minor one, were taboo; you couldn’t talk about them for fear of stigma, ridicule, or lack or support and understanding.
But things have been changing in recent years, and the pandemic has accelerated change, due to the number of people suffering from poor mental health.
I am writing this as a Health and Fitness Professional, and want to get across to you, that my role is not only to help you become and then remain physically healthy through exercise, but also to help you maintain a state of positive mental health through physical activity, social interaction and more.
The Fitness Fairy community is here to support you, whether through our online community, online live classes or in-person classes, and we will be with you as you gradually push the boundaries of your new comfort zone.
Yes, in person classes are gradually coming back, and some people can’t wait to join them; but others are more wary, and that’s fine, as we still have our live online classes for you, until you feel ready.
I want to put your mind at ease as to the safety of our in-person classes; there have been strict guidelines about what can and can’t be done in group fitness, and the health and fitness governing bodies have worked with the government to ensure these are extremely clear. All venues that we operate our classes in also have their own covid safety guidelines and so you can be confident that, as always, your health and safety is our primary concern. The Fitness Fairy Guidelines can be found here (Covid Guidelines ).
If anyone would like to speak to me and run through how we are keeping you safe, then I am happy to have a chat with anyone so please contact me and we can arrange a time.
It’s important for our mental health that we are physically active and also we need social interaction, so once you are ready, our in-person classes are ideal, but I do understand not everyone is feeling ready for such a step yet. Make sure you pick up the phone to chat to people you haven’t seen in a while, or when you see them in an online class, send them a message afterwards. Find other ways for social interaction whilst you are doing your online classes.
Another way you could help build up your confident towards an in-person class and reassure yourself, would be to gradually meet with friends from your classes; you could start with a walk outside, progress to having a coffee/tea and a chat outside, then arrange to meet and go into a local café, and when you are ready, meet up outside and walk into a class together. This could be done over weeks or even months; it’s all about self-compassion and doing what feels right for you.
It’s also important to share experiences; if you have been to an in-person class, why not chat to your friends about how it felt for you? But just be aware, that they may be more risk adverse than you, so be kind and compassionate if they still feel wary. See if there is a way that you can help them to become more confident.
We are all in this together, and by being the caring, supportive community we know we are, over time we will be able to welcome all our old faces back, and also welcome some new faces into our Fitness Fairy Family.
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