What will you resolve?
So many resolutions are made every year but how serious are we when we make them? We mean it at the time, whole heartedly, but do we REALLY mean it or is it just a wish we cannot feel motivated to fulfil. How many times have we said, “I will drink less (or nothing)”, “I will exercise more”, “I will eat healthier....”
In order for our goals to stick and for us to feel motivated to achieve them we need to really think about what problem we want to resolve or what outcome we want, what do we really need to change? And why?
If we aren’t specific to our own wishes then more of the battle we have to keep them.
In work we may use the acronym SMART to create our goals in a not so exciting (dare I say boring) brain storm session, but maybe applied to our self this won’t be so boring?
A reminder of the acronym applied to our new year resolutions.
Specific – I really want to start yoga
Measureable – attend a class weekly
Attainable – find a class that suits your location and type of yoga, try free trails to make sure you enjoy it.
Realistic – starting weekly just one session will help you stick to your goal, and you can always add more.
Time – put it in your diary as a weekly rolling event so that you see it in your calendar every week and can plan around it, then your timeframe is likely to make the year if not beyond.
If your goal is event based like a marathon then the time is established up to the point of the marathon – you get to achieve your goal in under a year! Then make another one...
Fitness goals are very popular and a great new year resolution, seen with busier gyms and general activity running off the Christmas splurge. But how can you maintain this throughout the year and beyond? Each year should be a slightly new resolution, not the same one repeated.
Whether it is yoga, gym or restarting football, it is important when increasing your levels of exercise that you think about your individual body and the activity you are doing.
For example are you returning to football after 15 years out? Being 15 years older you won’t be in the same shape, so in order to better achieve this goal, you should PREPARE yourself to return to football, which in turn will lead to a BETTER and LONGER term achievement of your goal.
How do you prepare? You should resolve any known niggles and injuries. Be honest, does your body feel ready? Do you feel stiff and achy in the morning? Start with a 5 minute morning stretch. Do you feel on the heavy side? Cut out your food vice (just one!). Been a while since you have run? Start some short sprints on a park walk.
All of the above are great singular resolutions in themselves but help you to achieve your more personal goal of returning to a sport you love. The bonus, you have created a healthier, fitter injury free new you!
Recommendation
Not sure what your body needs or how to get started to be sport or gym ready? Go and get some body work or a body MOT from a sports therapist. An hour or 90 minute session will tell where you are tight, restricted or unbalanced, and provide a plan of stretching, treatment and exercise, including soft tissue work and assisted stretching to help kick start your goals and prevent injuries. We can also help plan your goal and exercise sessions.
It is so important that as well as getting our bodies fitter, we are also looking after them, otherwise our new resolution will be forced to stop.
Top tips for maintaining and preventing injuries .
- book a body MOT
- specific weekly stretching tailored to you
- weekly to daily relaxation (yoga, salt baths, meditation)
- monthly soft tissue therapy (or more frequent if required).
- a professional plan of progressive exercise that is individualised towards your goals.
By Laura Jane
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