Sarah Warsi

Hello beautiful people, I hope you are doing well. So before I get started, the Leafs are out.

Welp.

But, hey, not too long ago, we didn’t think a Game 7 was even going to happen, so let’s look at the glass half full, right? #BetterLuckNextYear #TrueBandWagoner

Okay, so May is always one of those months that acts as the build up to the summer. The weather still has a mind of its own, but the days get long, the temperature gets warmer and there is a freshness in the air that symbolizes that summer is around the corner. 

With that sense of optimism comes the drive to keep moving, to keep active, and of course, one simple way to always do that is by exercising. I have countless posts on this but the message can never be reinforced enough. 

In fact, this past weekend, I attended a martial arts style cardio class, and just before the class began, I had a quick chat with a fellow attendee who relayed a very important message: that without self-care, nothing else around you is possible. Anytime I would see this person, they would always show their delight at my consistency of coming fairly regularly, which was always nice. So, when they saw me again, they acknowledged that and emphasized how important it is to prioritize yourself in order to keep going.

There could be a number of reasons to not come to a gym class on a Saturday morning, but when you recognize the importance on a bigger scale, you’ll do everything in your power to get that one hour of activity in. In a world filled with a myriad of things to be worried and stressed about, the one thing you can control is how you handle that worry and stress – and getting your endorphins up to a euphoric level will do wonders for your overall mood and mental health, including your stress level, your inner peace, and your ability to exercise patience. (No pun intended). 

This classmate’s message was further reinforced when things took a bit of a turn when the instructor had not shown up on time. A few people dejectedly packed up and left, but the majority of the class remained, determined to get a workout in somehow (myself included). So instead of just canceling the class outright, we pivoted and decided to start the class with a virtual version that played on a screen in front of us. Of course, it didn’t hit quite the same way as it would with a live instructor, on stage, giving cues, but it worked just fine as an unexpected alternative. The point was that all of us were there with the collective determination to work out. 

Luckily, the instructor did eventually show up (they had gotten lost), and we were able to salvage the remainder of the class – which ended up being awesome. They had great energy and perhaps turned it up a notch to make up for the time lost. Sometimes a rocky start can lead to an amazing experience and conclusion. When the class finished, the instructor was very apologetic for their tardiness but reiterated their sincere appreciation for us being there – and the collective energy in the room really resonated throughout. 

So just remind yourself that prioritizing and taking care of yourself is mandatory. That’s the narrative you must speak. All the millions of things that you’ve got going on won’t be doable if you are not on your personal A game.

So however working out looks for you: whether it’s going to the gym, exercising at home, going for a jog, or doing a yoga class on Youtube, make the time for it.

Give yourself that time – whether it’s 10 min or 60 min – to completely escape from the realities of everyday life. That post-workout feeling of rejuvenation will always make it worthwhile and be the fuel that you need to keep going. You got this.