One of the things I felt most upset and unsettled by at the prospect of being unable to leave my home for an indefinite amount of time aside for four reasons was no longer being able to go to the gym and not being able to do group workouts several times a week.
If the lockdown had occurred at the beginning of 2019 this would not have bothered me in the slightest. It would have been a relief even, an excuse to pause my membership and not feel guilty about the countless spin classes I signed up for but never went to. My relationship with exercise and myself as a result has changed beyond recognition in the last nine months and now it has all been taken away from me.
It is not the end of the world – obviously – and I’m incredibly lucky to be somewhere comfortable and safe whilst isolating from the world. I sit in my communal garden when it is sunny with dalgona coffee and a book, I watch all the TV shows to my hearts content, blast the record player with the four records I own, have all the time in the world to cook and write and sort. But I still miss the gym. I miss my life really but the gym is hard for me to replicate at home.
The reason Two Birds was so important and defining for me in finally developing an exercise routine was the group training aspect of it. It was communal and friendly and I didn’t have to think about to do or spend fifteen minutes staring at my phone ‘looking for my next set’ because I was overwhelmed and absolutely hated being there.
It was fun and easy and encouraging. I love the challenge of every new session and friendliness of the coaches and other gym goers. I miss this healthy aspect of my life so much and I’ll be less included to skip a session when I can finally go back.
I haven’t been able to replicate that at home. For the first two and half weeks of lockdown I didn’t exercise – I barely went outside and mostly sat in my bed as and sort of accepted I wouldn’t be exercising. I had no motivation to do a HIIT YouTube video or go for a run in the outside world.
I am struggling with the changes to my body again since lockdown started. I have been eating SO MUCH and not the healthiest of meals thanks to laziness or the horrible task that going to the shop has now become. I think I’m going to order a £20 fruit and veg box from one of my fave local Glasgow businesses this week in a way to avoid going AND support local business.
I feel sluggish and out of sorts with myself which makes it really difficult – I have always struggled with my body so after doing so well for such an extended period of time it feels stressful for me to have it taken away from me again. God I miss the gym.
To be honest I’m not sure what I would have done without the Two Birds virtual workouts. A few live workouts a week on Zoom alongside two yoga sessions led by Suzi and Jenn. I am living for the yoga sessions and I just simply wouldn’t be active without the live sessions. It is not the same as the actual studio and I miss weights but the sessions are tough and sweaty and it is good to see other people through Zoom.
Two Birds recently celebrated their one year anniversary and I hope they see many more anniversaries. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found a gym that has helped me so much and completely changed my relationship with exercise and my body – it truly has been life changing and I’m not just waxing lyrical. I’m counting down the days (metaphorically, no one knows when) until we can all get back in there and I would urge anyone to join once lockdown is over.
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