Looking back at my wellbeing journey, I never imagined that jogging and yoga would become a big part. While fitness had always piqued my interest, I struggled to find motivation amidst my busy life. I’m like a ninja at the gym– you’ll never find me there! Joking aside, I did try going to the gym once and never went again. I consider myself observant, and I’m quite honest and self-conscious. So, I was a little intimidated to see all the gym-goers doing their reps and routines.
Eventually, I told my partner, who is quite the fitness buff, that I wanted to give fitness a go, but not go to the gym!
Enter our local sports complex that has a running track.
He suggested just jogging for now if I’m still wary of going to the gym, which I find silly because I live next to a gym!
So I gave jogging a try.
The first few weeks of it were tiresome, and I thought to myself, ‘Maybe I’m not meant for land sports.’ as I used to be on the swim team. But as many moons passed, I could pace myself better and breathe more evenly.
As for yoga, I started the same way people during the lockdowns did: because why not?
I thought, ‘Okay, we’ve got some more time at home, how about we give yoga a go?’
At first, I was confident because I considered myself to be quite flexible, at least compared to my friends and family.
However, when I did start, I realised I wasn’t as flexible as I thought.
Again, I was a little stumped, thinking maybe this wasn’t for me. The universe works in mysterious ways, and by that, I mean I had to be patient with myself.
A lot of trying new things requires patience. So why was I, what people would say, doing the most?
It started as something along the lines of taking care of myself. I used to think that fitness was focused around aesthetics, rather than having to look after yourself. Eventually, it transformed into something of a release. Release from the negative energy from the week. If I had frustrations, I would jog extra laps and listen to “Undefeated” by XG. If I had a good week, I would have an extra bounce in my step and listen to “Pantropiko” by BINI!
It was therapeutic, in a way.
Yoga, on the other hand, gave me a way to manage my stress and anxiety. The breathing exercises and stretches helped me calm down, refocus, and channel positive energy.
Both yoga and jogging became essential for my physical and mental wellbeing. These activities have shown me to that taking care of my body and mind can be enjoyable and rewarding. They’ve become my go-to strategies for maintaining balance in my life, proving that fitness and mental health are truly interconnected!
