The importance of self care for fitness professionals

Caring for yourself is the best way to care for your clients

As professionals in health, fitness and mindful movement, our clients’ happiness and well-being are our utmost priority. However, because we place so much focus on others we can (unknowingly) neglect our own well being. We asked our fellow Merrithew instructors to share their top three methods for incorporating self care into their daily routines so they can perform at their best for their clients.

• Saulo Ouverney
• Corporate Training Center, Toronto
• Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainer: STOTT PILATES^® (Matwork & Reformer; Cadillac, Chair and Barrels; Total Barre^®; Halo^® Training)

It’s not always an easy task, but bringing self-care to our lives is absolutely worth it so we can perform at our best. Here’s what I do:

1. Exercise for what my body needs at the time
   Sometimes I meditate or do simple exercises such as hip rolls, cat stretches and spinal rotations, but I also take the time to make sure I’m challenging my own physical health and wellness with exercises like a 30-minute high-intensity Halo Training session or an hour STOTT PILATES class
2. No ‘work talk’ on off days
   Whenever I have free time, I don’t talk about work. Instead, I focus on other things such as spending time with my friends. Or, I also enjoy going for a nice walk by myself with a good cup of coffee
3. Listening to my body
   Knowing when to say ‘no’ can be a life safer. It’s hard because you’ll often want to stay consistent with your routines, but sometimes you have to take a step back for your own health and well-being. When I am stressed out or in any kind of pain (emotional or physical) I like hopping onto a Cadillac bed and do any inverted position. I feel great and renewed being upside down and stretching out and elongating my whole spine

• Janet Comerford
• Complete Body Movement, Dublin, Ireland
• Merrithew Instructor Trainer: STOTT PILATES^® (Matwork & Reformer; Cadillac, Chair and Barrels; ISP)

Running my own business as a Pilates Instructor, Neuromuscular Sports Massage Therapist and Instructor Trainer brings amazing rewards, but there are also many challenges and stresses that come with juggling time and commitments. Here are some ways I put self-care into my day-to-day life:

1. Meditate and exercise daily
   Even on days where I have a ‘busy brain’, just sitting in silence for 20-or-so minutes helps keeps me grounded. Then, I always practice STOTT PILATES in some form whether it’s equipment or mat based to incorporate mindfulness, breath and body awareness
2. Social time
   Spending time with our friends is very uplifting. I am lucky to have amazing friends with whom I meet regularly, preferably over a good coffee—bliss!
3. Positive communication
   Good communication with our colleagues is important to support each other with planning courses, workshops and the care and education of our students. A key element is to ensure a healthy work- life balance, particularly as the IT work at Complete Body Movement is regularly conducted over weekends

• Sharon Currie
• Be Pilates, Auckland, New Zealand
• Merrithew Instructor Trainer: STOTT PILATES^® (Matwork & Reformer; Cadillac, Chair and Barrels; ISP; Total Barre^®)

When you find your passion in life in terms of your career, it is difficult to not fill your time with opportunities to enhance your passion and business. But, balance can be found in a number of ways, from listening to our bodies and slowing down to recharge, to giving ourselves a boost with an athletic workout. Here are three ways I incorporate self care:

1. Respecting life’s wonderful ride
   Running our Be Pilates Studio is a constant humble reminder about the importance of enjoying life’s wonderful ride. Each day in the studio is the opportunity to work with wonderful clients who are experiencing life’s rollercoaster of events. Some clients this week have been very sick and have needed restorative fascial & muscular release, while others required athletic challenges on the Pilates equipment. I am always mindful that we need to honor our bodies with what we need for that day. This is how I program my own workouts – sometimes restorative fascial release, sometimes athletic challenge
2. Be mindful about the little things
   Sometimes the best way to find balance is to pause and remind yourself to laugh often. Take the time to mindfully breathe freely and be grateful for the little things; which is sometimes simply playing an old classic soulful artist on the LP player with all the doors open, or sometimes it’s just listening to the sounds of nature
3. Keep mobile
   The more we move, the better we feel—even if it’s just a little. My go-to exercise on busy days is definitely rotation with port-de-bra on the Spine Corrector. I love the decompressing, uplifting quality whilst strengthening the abdominals and opening the hips. I often make time to sneak in as many reps as possible prior to the studio opening in the morning

How do you incorporate self care into your daily routine? Let us know in the comments!