Self-care: There’s been a lot of focus on that concept lately. In our full, busy full lives, it’s easy to overlook our own needs. But self-care is not just bubble-baths and massages – although those are quite nice, and sometimes important – let’s talk for a moment about exercise. 

Rewind three years. I went to my doctor for a routine visit just after my 35th birthday. “Do you exercise?” Well, I run a playgroup and chase around my own four kids. That counts, right? Apparently not. So I reluctantly took myself to a fitness class. And that changed my life. I immediately fell in love with a class called BodyAttack, a cardio class with high- and low-impact options. My endurance and athletic ability were very weak, and I wanted to improve, so I asked myself what I could do that would encourage a commitment to fitness.

Goals are very important, big and small. I decided to go for a huge goal. I signed myself up for a Tough Mudder, a 12-mile endurance obstacle course. Stepping totally out of my comfort zone, I approached the BodyAttack instructor and let her know my goal. She assured me that with commitment and hard work I would succeed. Over the next eight months, I took various fitness classes, including BodyPump, a strength training class that I now teach. The instructors were so supportive and encouraging, and the friends I made motivated me to keep going despite struggles along the way. Crossing that finish line at the end of the Tough Mudder was an amazing experience. It felt like a culmination of my dedication to my health. But that was just the start of my journey.