I first started using the term “soft-start” on our winter yoga retreat last January. The weekend started 6pm Friday welcome class. Knowing most of the participants were coming from work or a days’ travelling, I suggested a soft start to allow a more gradual transition from office / packing / driving mode, to switching off and being present.
The next day I scheduled an early morning class for the Saturday of the retreat but, again, with a soft-start…. In other words: arrive, take time to settle in into the space and breathe… and then we’ll begin. A soft start meant that anyone arriving a little late didn’t need to feel anxious that they’d miss the beginning. It meant a little less pressure and anxiety, and a little more space and time.
I’m not advocating lateness. I didn’t suggest to participants that they should disregard the start time… just that the start (in these instances) was soft. Allowing for hiccoughs and delays, life and the unexpected.
Soft-start, to me, means a gradual beginning. A bit-by-bit adjustment of things, rather than an all at once approach. It allows for the unexpected. I find it a useful concept to remember at this time of year when we are suddenly thrown into a flurry of marketing campaigns telling us that RIGHT NOW is the moment, the best time to start all the things – the healthy eating, the dry January, the bootcamp. But surely it’s not the only time to start, and surely that’s not the only way to begin?
As someone who works in the fitness industry, every year I question this logic. Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite because here am I telling you to get out of bed and jump about, when all most of us want to do is go back to sleep. January is, however, an big month for the fitness industry and as a small business I need to make the most of it – this busy month makes up for much quieter times of the year at the studio so it’s crucial to maximise. At the same time I hate putting pressure on people, and doing the big sales talk. Acknowledging that not everyone is ready to JUST DO IT is important.
The January resolution boom means we’re all somewhat bombarded with fitness marketing, diet messaging, and healthy living campaigns. It can be overwhelming, intimidating and sometimes off-putting. It can also lead to feelings of inadequacy and self doubt. I do think people are questioning this messaging more and more though – especially concepts like “New year, new you” ? After all, what’s wrong with the old you (spoiler alert: absolutely nothing!).
That doesn’t mean you can’t change and grow. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start your year with intention, or make plans, or get excited about a new chapter. In fact that idea of processing the previous year and looking forward to the coming 12 months – setting intentions, identifying changes you want to make – fits in so well with a soft start. It’s that taking the time to look where you’re going before you begin your journey.
How many of us have set the same resolutions over and over. How many of us have repeated the same actions – giving something up for 3 weeks then feeling like a failure for not sticking to a new diet or exercise routine? They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. For me January is the maddest month of all
And it doesn’t need to be all planning and intention. It’s also a great time to get moving. Although, cyclically, January is a time for hibernation and rest, that doesn’t mean we should just sit on the couch for the next month. It can be a long month, a dark month, and often a pretty depressing month and anything we can do to lift our spirits and beat those January blues should be encouraged.
I believe that exercise can really help with this – it’s an energy boost, an endorphin release, and a confidence builder. After Christmas I often feel lethargic and slow, and whilst it’s nice to lean into this a little (getting the stove on and having a few more early nights) but I always feel better for moving and getting out. I feel better for exercising, dancing and listening to music, and seeing friends. I feel better for eating well and drinking less and getting outside.
Yesterday I had my first post Christmas workout. It was hard. It was sore. I was shaking. I cursed myself for taking so much time off. But afterwards I felt great. I still feel more myself, more energised and focussed.
So how do we do both? Lean into this season of wintering, honour that need for warmth and slowing down, whilst also moving forward and reaping the benefits of movement and exercise?
Our Time to Shine bootcamp aims to do that. We’ll begin each week with mindfulness and intention (led by Holly from Samsara Space). Taking time to breathe and settle in. As the week progresses each day we have a 30 minute session (pulling from both yoga and traditional fitness). Sessions will include strength building using resistance, as well as yoga, mobility and fitness. The yin and the yang.
Although the live sessions are each day at 6.30am (which I admit doesn’t sound very soft start-y), you can catch up at any time that suits you over the week. It means if you do have a bad nights’ sleep / end up working late / catch the dreaded lurgy, you can still take part.
I’m also working, for the first time, with a transformative life coach. We have coaches for our physical health – so why not for our overall wellbeing? Rather than repeating the same goals as always, Kat will help us recognise the stories we are telling ourselves, the barriers that are holding us back , and will guide us to
moving forward with intention. Nutritionist Alanna will also be joining us leading us to get past diet culture and abstinence, and listen to our bodies more.
You can find out more about Time to Shine here, or send me an email with any questions. It’s available for free for our Shine members too, and you can do it from anywhere in the world! Or if you’re interested in our Intention Setting yoga retreat, the last weekend in January, drop me an email.