Summer Survival: Small wins for when routine goes out the window
Can you still find ten minutes for yourself when the usual routine disappears?
If the frenzy of end-of-term activities (assemblies, parties, concerts, school trips - it's exhausting!) doesn't leave you frazzled, six weeks without structure or routine is bound to finish the job.
In my 14 years as a mum, and 20+ years as a yoga and Pilates teacher in Wetherby, the school holidays are the one time when any kind of practice I ever believed I had is challenged in every way possible - along with my patience.
It's the time of year when I have to be super disciplined to practise exactly what I teach. If I don't, we all suffer.
The real challenge isn't fitness, it's structure
Despite the panic messages I usually receive at this time of the year about 'loss of gains' whilst on holiday, this is not actually the problem. We don't undo our work, lose mobility or become weak overnight because we've had a few weeks holiday.
But what is more at risk of being lost to the holidays is the reliability of routine — the 6:30pm reformer class; the walk to school; the need to get up and get moving even when you'd really rather hit snooze. We say goodbye to the snippets of the day that were reliably ours, and are expected to share them with everyone else for the duration of the school holidays. Movement classes quickly move from the ‘me-time’ list to the ‘maybe in September’ list as everything else competes for your attention.
“I try to take what I can get, when I can get it.”
So how do I get through it?
Over the years I've learned to not even try and protect the old routine. It won't survive, and just causes tension. Instead, I try to take what I can get, when I can get it. I get creative. I appreciate the small moments. I pepper in movement, breathing, pausing for a cuppa whenever I can. If I can manage longer than a moment, I grab it with both hands. If not, I try not to resist, and remind myself that this summer won't last forever, September will be here before we know it.
Movement snacks, not full workouts
A movement snack is not a full meal. It doesn't require equipment, preparation or the right clothing. Movement snacks could be:
A quick stretch while the kettle boils
A few squats while refereeing an argument
Calf raises while brushing your teeth
Ankle circles while waiting for the toast to pop
While none of this fully replaces an entire class, it does keep your body speaking a language that it won't have to relearn when September rolls around and you can get back to a class.
These movements are my go-to for when time is short and my body craves movement.
Need a little inspiration? Here are three of my favourite movement snack ideas:
Breathing when you're frazzled
When the noise level rises, your breath is usually the first thing to go. It becomes shallow, short and on high alert, telling your nervous system it's in danger, even if that danger is the sound of kids bickering.
To give the breath a little reset, try making your exhale double the length of your inhale. Breathe in for 3, out for 6. Work up to in for 5, out for 10. Keep it gentle and never force it. It can be done anywhere, any time, for as long as you want. My top tip - escape to the loo, lock the door and breathe.
Escape the noise and come to class
I know this might be a tall order, but if you can escape for an hour, I thoroughly recommend joining a class at Move Well Studio here in Wetherby. No, it's not indulgent, it's your chance to refill your cup and return home a better human. An hour where nobody needs anything from you, your body gets proper attention rather than the leftover attention you've had spare all day, and you come out the other side more able to cope with the rest of the holidays. If you can get to the studio even once in the next few weeks, book it. And if escaping the house is an absolute no, remember our weekly Core & More class also takes place on Zoom each Tuesday at 8.15pm, with a Zoom recording available for one week after the live class.
Book your September schedule now
So many of you have told me 'you'll pick it back up in September'. If you are all true to your word, every class is going to be packed full, with very long waitlists.
September is a bit like January: new school year, new routine, a huge influx of people wanting to join a yoga or Reformer Pilates class in Wetherby once summer break is over and a level of normality resumes. I absolutely recommend booking well in advance so you don't miss out on a place in your favourite class. Our schedule now allows bookings right through to December, so if you're feeling organised you can get each class booked and in the diary.
I'll be back from my holiday, and classes resume on Thursday 13 August. Sending you solidarity and all the best for your summer survival.
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