The Apple Doesn’t fall far from the Tree
Hello oh my goodness it’s so nice to meet you !!!
HI, I’M CAITLIN.
I have been so excited to introduce myself to our wonderful community of stretchiflexers. Please accept this as my formal HELLO! I’m smiling ear to ear just thinking about what’s in store for us with this newsletter/blog we’ve got going on. However, it was only a couple of years ago that I would tease my darling mother for the large and often strange assortment of health newsletters that clogged her inbox folder each month (e.g., how to lose 8 kilos before the weekend; natural remedies that have now been proven illegal; 3 creative ways to shave your legs without a razor). Yet, here I am, entering the world of blog posts and newsletters. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The topics are endless when we combine the two magic worlds of fitness and the creative arts. Today, I have a few things I’d love to share with you, so stick around for 1. the form of exercise that is my latest obsession; 2. my July favourite; and 3. my tips on how to choose the right personal trainer for you. But also stick around for future blog posts because we have SO much to talk about. Did I mention I’m so glad you’re here ?!?!
LATEST OBSESSION
- exercise edition -
It will come as no surprise that I have jumped on the running bandwagon. I suppose it would make more sense to say that I’ve stepped off the bandwagon and am working on my stride? It’s interesting to me that running has become such a phenomenon after our pandemic days. We’ve regained access to gyms but we seem to want to be outside? I think it’s a beautiful thing; people are getting out in nature; people too uncomfortable to attend a commercial gym alone have started moving; run clubs have formed and people are socialising over activities that encourage health rather than take from it.
Running has been a great thing for me this winter. As someone who usually battles the SADS, I haven’t felt it so much this year, and that’s a big win- especially since my professional singing work seems to slow down in winter. It could be really easy to stay inside and stop moving. I encourage you to try running as well. I’d recommend it paired with weight training though. Man cannot live off running alone!
JULY FAVOURITE
This month I visited a multi-sensory art exhibition of Monet and the French Impressionists. As a creative, there is nothing quite like a live performance or artistic experience to energise you. I left the exhibition feeling so impacted. Since then, I haven’t necessarily felt inspired to create something in my primary discipline, but I can still feel the impression in my heart.
What I have noticed, however, is that everything I see seems to look a little more beautiful to me. In the gift shop, I picked up a printed sketch of a ballerina titled ‘Dancer Adjusting Her Slipper’ by French artist, Edgar Degas. It’s now sitting in my room and I can’t wait to frame it! Absolutely my favourite purchase from July!
Tickets via:
https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/things-to-do/calendar-of-events/monet-experience.html
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PT
for you
Choosing a personal trainer can be like choosing a hairdresser, or even a therapist! It’s important that you choose someone who you feel comfortable around. Not only because they might be seeing you at 6am pre-coffee, but because you are going to need to be vulnerable around them. I suggest narrowing down what kind of exercise you like before you find a personal trainer, so that you can look for a personal trainer in that field. If you want to lift weights, then find a PT in that field, but if you know you like team sports, then maybe finding a private tennis coach would work best for you!
The next thing I will say on this is:
—give it time—
You might not actually hate your PT. You might just hate exercise. And that’s okay! It’s normal to hate hard things, but the more you keep showing up, the better you will get at it and the prouder you’ll be. And we all love doing things that we are proud of ourselves for.
There’s so much more to say on this topic, but I think I’ll save it for it’s own dedicated blog. For now, your takeaway is this: narrow down what kind of exercise you like, find a trainer you feel comfortable with, and give it a couple of weeks until you’ve improved on something that you can be proud of. That might be the toughest task of the three, but I believe in you.
THAT’S ALL FROM ME.
Thanks so much for sticking around. If something resonated with you, be sure to reach out to us! If you’d like us to dive deeper into one of these topics then let us know. I’ve loved hanging out with you and I can’t wait to talk again soon. Take care (of what’s outside and inside).
Big love,
Caitlin XX
