“Isn’t this ironic?”, I thought to myself yesterday on Human Rights Day…Celebrating human rights when a document is published on the Facebook page of our local newspaper by the Gert Sibande Regional office that all swimming pools and gyms in the area should close their doors???
Closing, while we haven’t heard of ONE reported case of the virus in our town? Closing, while there are never more than 60 people at a time in our studio? Closing, while many Virgin Actives in Gauteng and the Western Cape are still conducting business as usual?
Excuse me, I’m not trying to be stubborn or anything, but until I receive a formal document, stamped, sealed and delivered personally by a government official, I am NOT closing. Shouldn’t such drastic measures be enforced by National authorities…? And do they really expect us to close if we haven’t been informed personally? Just asking…
…Anyaway…Amidst all the Coronavirus chaos we still had our New Year Challenge prize giving ceremony on Thursday evening, and although fewer participants attended, and although the usual festive atmosphere was a little subdued and everyone appeared a little more serious and detached, it was still a very special, proud event. This Challenge was only six weeks long, but our members outdid themselves. Here are our overall winners:
Under 40 winners: Edrei du Plessis (1st), Merisha Naidoo (3rd) and Leonie Prinsloo (2nd)
Winners Plus 40 Category: Carien Bester (1st), Ina van der Linde (2nd) and Gosia Snyman (3rd).
Malie Botes, our biggest loser, dropped 7,3kg in 6 weeks!
(Details of our awards and prizes will appear in our next newsletter…)
And here are our best dressed members for the evening, brilliantly depicting the theme of “If I were a boy…”
I really would like to thank my proud sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible: Hannes Zwarts Oogkundiges, Sonnet from Mizpah, Christien from C-beauty, Else-Marie Skoonheidsalon, Carien from Avon, Michelle from Kwantum makelaars and Burlec. A special thank you to Erika Nel from iNews for the photos and Odette from Party Fusion as well as Gloudine from Digital Solutions.
…Normally at this time of year, everyone is taking a welcome break from signing in and doing body assessments. They catch their breaths and mentally prepare themselves for the annual, 12-week Winter Challenge starting in May. But last Monday we started another six-week Challenge, free of charge, encouraging everyone to start working to earning a hundred signatures as part of our brand-new reward programme…
And now, as I’m writing this Blog, I can’t guarantee that there even will be a winter Challenge. I can’t even guarantee that the studio will be open next week, or the week after that…
As Mariné and I were driving to town yesterday, we were smiling at the Webuycars-commercial on Jakaranda 94.2. This guy was saying, “My schedule is so rough I only have time to run errands on a Sunday…” Whahaha…’well that is about to change drastically, sir…
…That’s one thing all of us are bound to have plenty of soon – Time…Our country could face a national lock-down if the pandemic continues to spread at its current rate…And yes, during the past seven days, things have changed dramatically. (Sorry Eswee, I had indeed thought you were exaggerating three weeks ago when you were expressing your concerns and foreseeing all the current events…)
…Covid-19 has indeed taken over our lives – it almost feels as if someone has decided to call off 2020…
This morning it has been confirmed that 1 billion people are currently confined to their homes globally…
Covid-19 has taught us that NOTHING in life is certain and predictable.
Covid-19 has brought our religious and political leaders together.
Covid-19 has brought us to the realisation that the world is so small, and that an isolated disease can affect billions of people in an unbelievable short time…
And yet, although we are all unsure, it’s still amazing that people haven’t lost their sense of humour…I couldn’t help but smile about a few social media posts…Someone asked if now was the right time to plant poinsettias…I mean really, who cares!☺☺☺. A few other posts like these also really put a smile on my face….
…Why do we joke about it? Is it inappropriate? I don`t think so, making light of heavy things helps us cope. It helps us ease the pain. Just think about it – we are going to be the grandparents with pandemic stories. It’s a terrifying thing, and the jokes keep us from losing hope. And you know what – although things are going to get a lot worse first, they will eventually get better…
At this point it’s extremely tough to find this cloud’s silver lining, but –
- It is interesting that a global pandemic actually became the only thing that could cure FOMO…
- It is a fact that of about 80 000 people sick from Covid-19 in China, more than 70% have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
- Air pollution has plummeted worldwide, Venice`s waters are running clear and analysts from the Washington Post have noted a drastic decrease in major greenhouses gases over Europe…
- A 103-year old Chinese grandmother has made a full recovery from COVID-19 and is currently motivating elderly across the globe to retain hope.
Hope…that is what we all need, more than ever, and this weekend, as the uncertainty about things at our own studio engulfed my mind, I have realised, more than ever that our trust, belief, perception and thinking about the next few months will determine our outcome…
“You are not stuck inside. No, you are indulging in a long-awaited opportunity to slow down, focus on yourself and your loved ones and your home”, writes Dr Aarti Gupta (nah, don’t think he is related to thooose Guptas…) of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Now would be the best opportunity for that mindfulness-thing everyone is always babbling about. Mindful eating, mindful reading, mindful thinking, mindful being. And sticking to a routine, a daily schedule to keep you focused. Eating well, resting well and breathing…
…This morning I stumbled on the most inspiring piece of writing by journalist Mary Schmich in the Chicago Tribune. She says: “Anxiety is its own contagion. Don`t wallow in the news…Being informed is good, but constant binge watching is like bathing in a swamp. Make time to turn off the news and turn on some music. Your mind reflects what you put into it…”
And when it comes to exercise, there’s no reason why you can’t still come out of all of this with your usual stunning summer body…☺☺☺
While working out on MY own has never been my best attribute, I am today, more than ever thankful that we upped our social media game and improved our skills regarding online workouts a year ago…
We have more followers than ever on Instagram, and our various exercise video clips are applauded and appreciated by many.
In the last week our subscribers on our YouTube channel has increased with a hundred, and this weekend I have started to upload all of those precious content, making it accessible to all – stunning full workouts with mind-blowing, good quality music. Full-body workouts you can easily do in the comfort of your own home. So, should the pawpaw hit the fan in the next few days, I already have a well-planned strategy to occupy our members…When the going gets tough, the tough will work out online…☺It`s imperative that everyone is assured of our continuous support, regardless the circumstances. We will not desert you – we will simply find other ways to serve your needs…But let`s not put the cart before the horse, shall we? One day at a time.
…Am I not unsure? Of course, I am…While Mariné has arrived safely home, Eswee is still at Stellenbosch University working hard to complete his thesis. I believe and pray that we will not be separated for much longer…
Am I not scared? Of course, I am…I think we all are…But listen to this quote from George Martin from The Game of Thrones:
“Bran thought about it. ‘Can a man still be brave if he`s afraid?’
That is the only time a man CAN be brave’, his father told him…”
As C Joybell C, has said:
“Don’t be afraid of your fears. They`re not there to scare you. They`re there to let you know that something is worth it…”
Many things have been cancelled because of the Corona virus. Love is not one of them, neither is faith, nor hope, or prayer. “Do not be afraid”, as Jesus said many times.
While the going is getting tougher every day, let’s choose faith over fear, fact over false, wisdom over worry and prayer over panic.
Yours in fitness
Mirna
082 779 0507