You might have seen another post here on the blog where I was talking about the importance of increasing your movement in day-to-day life, and how you don’t have to get started with traditional ’exercise’ if you’re not ready for that yet (if not, you can have a read here). But for those who are ready…!
(Prefer the spoken version? Here me speak about this topic here.)
I want to talk a little about my own strength training journey so far, and tell you about how Somatic Movement has helped me significantly with it.
We all know how important strength work is, right? There’s a wealth of research out there about the positive outcomes of increasing our strength (here’s an example, in case you needed convincing).
But like me, you might have a few things that get in your way of even getting started with work like this - my own journey has included chronic fatigue, chronic pain, finding the time, struggling to motivate myself, and most definitely not being a ‘gym goer’. As in, the idea of exercise for exercise’s sake made my heart absolutely sink!
But the more I read about strength training and its importance, the more determined I became.
A big part of my growing motivation was my increasing age of course - being in my late 40s when I got started, and starting to experience what I needed to do and to better understand what I would need going forwards for a healthful aging process, I realised that I absolutely had to get some of this work into my life if I wanted to age as well as I possibly could.
Not to mention that I’d promised myself a few years back that I’d be in the best physical shape of my life by the age of 50. I was running out of time!!
I’m also a parent of 3 children (you can read more about our approach to parenting here - this is what I used to teach in another life!), and I want to be as able and available as I can to them, for as long as I can. So although the strength work is another thing that takes up my time, I see it as a hugely valuable investment in terms of what I can bring to our family.
So a couple of years ago I started having personal trainer sessions with a local trainer I found online*. I meant to have a handful of weekly sessions just to get me started. But I got SO much out of them, and enjoyed them so much, that I ended up just carrying on!
In my first year, I gradually built up what I was able to do, and from almost nothing I could then do things like holding a plank for 45 seconds, doing a dead hang for 30 seconds, doing 30 decently low squats without too much trouble, and lifting heavier weights. I’ve always been relatively strong in my legs (compared to my upper body), but when I could actually see my biceps in my upper arms, it was very gratifying!
And of course I didn’t stop after that year - I just carried on, doing lots of work with my PT, doing some at home on my own, and even getting two of my kids going on it too! (We’re keen climbers, so building strength is a no-brainer for them really!)
And I’m pretty proud of where I’m at now, to be honest - feeling stronger over time in my late 40s is extremely encouraging.
But more than that, I have noticed a big difference in my function - and that’s what’s it’s all about, isn’t it? For example, when we did a big garden clear out, I was able to lift all the heavy things, including paving slabs and large, full plant pots, without any trouble. (I mean, they were still heavy - but it didn’t cause me any problems to do it!) Or going climbing with my kids - my legs are so much stronger now and I can push through them to get to holds I couldn’t have reached before. Or when we climbed Yr Wyddfa, and I realised that I was coping really well, even when I ended up having to carry two backpacks to support one of my kids who needed a bit of a break.
It has taken time, but I really am seeing the benefits now - and I believe this is just the start.
But Somatic Movement - what’s that got to do with my strength training journey?
Well, first of all, I believe I wouldn’t have been able to even start strength training without Somatic Movement. Fatigue and pain meant more surviving than thriving, and something as full-on as strength training was WAY out of my league. Because Somatic Movement releases the muscle tension which can cause pain and uses excess energy, I was able to both reduce pain and increase energy. And because Somatic Movement uses gentle, developmental movements, which you access within your current capacity, I was able to build up very slowly and safely in terms of moving more.
So that’s feels big - enabling me to even get started!!
Once I did start the strength training, the ability to sense my own soma** that my Somatic Movement practice has brought me has made me feel I can access strength work much more safely and effectively than I otherwise would have. Because I can easily check in with what I’m feeling as I train, I am able to notice things like: which muscles are working (or not!), what position my body/the parts of my body are in (not always as easy as it sounds), how heavy I can go with the weights, understanding any left-right imbalances (and what to do about them), keeping my form safe and efficient, how to release and use muscles to bring me into alignment (rather than forcing myself to get there)…
All of these things help me to know my limits and keep myself safe, and to make the exercises as effective as they can be - meaning I can do more and get more out of my sessions.
So what are the important things I’ve found in terms of getting started with strength training?
It is recommended that you check with your family doctor before starting on any new exercise practice.
If you can find and afford some 1:1 sessions to get you going, I’d highly recommend that - so that you know you’re doing the exercises correctly, and for some tailored support.
I personally haven’t managed to find a group class that suits my schedule as yet, but for motivation and feeling less alone in this work, I think they would be brilliant!
It’s ok to start small - in fact, it’s great to start small!
Just start with something. The amount of information and offerings out there can be overwhelming, but just pick one and get going on it.
Incorporate Somatic Movement both to keep you safe, and to maximise your strength training work.
Our membership is the perfect way to get started with Somatic Movement - with an on-demand option, as well as the option for joining live classes (both online and in-person), you’ll find all you need to start moving better, sensing your soma better, and keeping yourself safe and efficient in your strength training work.
I’m really excited about where my strength training will take me - and I couldn’t have done it (or indeed continue to do it) without my Somatic Movement practice! Start where you are, where you can, and see what these amazing approaches can do for you too! Much love as you explore, Emilie xx
*Kelly Dacre, at The Power Plant in Woodley, Berkshire, UK. She’s brilliant. And she does online work too.
**Soma = your living body as you experience it from the inside.
Emilie Leeks
AuthorEmilie is a heart-centred life mentor and space holder, supporting those on a healing path. This is not an easy journey, and often we can find ourselves losing our way. Emilie's work meets you where you're at, with beautiful, accepting support and connection, and weaves that support with practices and explorations in self-compassion, body connection, and a return to a deep trust in ourselves. Note: all blog post content which refers to them, has been read and agreed to by Emilie's children.
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