Fitness as a Celebration of Gratitude & Joy
Fitness isn’t just about burning calories or achieving a certain body type—it’s about celebrating what your body is capable of. In January and February, let's shift the focus from "what we want to change" to "what we are grateful for.”
Here are a few tips:
Focus on what your body can do: Instead of setting goals centred around changing your appearance, focus on what your body allows you to achieve. From doing your first pull-up to holding a plank for an extra minute, celebrate these small wins.
Track non-scale victories: Create a journal or digital tracker for all the small victories, like increasing weights, adding more reps, or improving flexibility. These are milestones that highlight what your body is capable of, not just how it looks.
Celebrate progress regularly: Take time at the end of each workout or week to reflect on what your body achieved—whether it’s lifting heavier, enduring longer, or feeling less fatigued during a workout.
Fitness as self-care: Turn fitness into an act of self-love. Instead of seeing workouts as a chore, embrace them as a way to take care of yourself. It's about showing up for your own well-being. I hear it a lot from current clients that the time they have scheduled to meet with me for session is “their time” to focus on themselves - which is awesome to hear!
Schedule fitness like an appointment: Treat your workouts with the same importance as a work meeting or doctor’s appointment. Block out time on your calendar to avoid skipping them, reinforcing that this time is dedicated to nurturing your well-being.
Create a nurturing environment: Make your workout space pleasant. Play music you love, use lighting that energizes you, and bring any small comforts (like a mat or equipment you enjoy using). The space should feel like a sanctuary for you to connect with your body and mind.
Link movement with mental health: Recognize that exercise can be a powerful tool for improving mental clarity and emotional well-being. If you’re stressed, anxious, or feeling low, remind yourself that this workout is a positive way to reconnect with yourself and boost your mood.
Positivity in progress: Embrace the journey rather than obsessing over a specific outcome. Whether you’re getting stronger or simply feeling more energized, take time to appreciate your growth:
Keep a fitness journal: Document not only your physical progress but also your mental and emotional growth. Record moments when you feel stronger, more energized, or at peace. This helps you stay focused on the journey rather than fixating on the outcome.
Celebrate milestones, big and small: Every step of progress matters. Whether it's holding a plank for an extra 10 seconds or completing a full week of workouts, acknowledge it. Celebrate with a small reward or by sharing the achievement with a friend or community.
Avoid comparison: Focus on your own journey and resist comparing your progress to others. Everyone progresses differently. Instead, look back at where you started, and appreciate how far you've come from that starting point.
Focus on energy and vitality: Instead of focusing on metrics like weight or specific body changes, celebrate how you feel after a workout. If you're more energized, sleeping better, or feeling stronger, that’s a sign of progress too.
This year, let’s make fitness a celebration of what our bodies can do. When we practice gratitude in our workouts, we shift our mindset from "I have to" to "I get to," making fitness something we genuinely enjoy.