Back when Tina Turner was belting out these lyrics on MTV, I seriously doubt there was ever any consideration of what love has to do with fitness.
And…
…when I teach the first day of ADC and we discuss resiliency, I can tell that many of you are skeptical about the importance of love and its role in my vision of health and wellness.
So what does LOVE got to do with it?
Well, there are many things that influence our ability to be resilient… stress, nutrition, hydration, relationships, physical stress from exercise or sport, sleep… and LOVE.
Since 2007, I have had the luxury of figuring all of this stuff out. A love-hate relationship with CrossFit drove me into pursuing a deeper understanding of how to create fitness in efforts to influence health metrics. It wasn't until finding OPEX that I fully understood love's role in all of this.
Your nutrition… and the quality of your food. There is truth in that taking the time to search for quality foods, and preparing them yourself (or with your family) adds an element of love to your food… leading to a greater appreciation for what you're eating, how it's prepared and how your body absorbs the nutrients. LOVE your food!
Another great example is your sleep… and sleep quality. Many of us don't realize what quality sleep can do for us in terms of resilience, health and wellness… but it can change your life! And what of love and sleep?? Well, if you don't love your bed, your sheets and blankets, your pillows… or if you don't have a favorite place to nap, the quality of your sleep will suffer, along with your ability to truly rest, recover and create resiliency.
Yeah, I know it sounds a bit silly, but LOVE has a ton to do with your overall wellness. Love your job… and you're happier. When you are happier, you have higher quality relationships, which leads to less stress and the greater ability to deal with stress. In the gym… when you love your training, you are more aware of it's benefits, and have a greater willingness to be open to ways to create fitness for yourself.
I have been involved in sports and fitness for most of my life, and I chose this career path for several reasons… it's one of the only things I am good at, I truly love it, and I get great gratification in sharing the love of fitness and all it has to offer.
Take inventory of your life… understand your level of resiliency… find your inner hippie, and LET LOVE RULE!
Not mentioned in the above essay is the role that LOVE can play in one’s internal battles… say with a disease like cancer.
There are many stories out there about this very concept… and many of our newer shedheads may not be aware of the stories within our own RedShed Community… Janice, Ro and Cuz.
When I say “LOVE makes a difference”, it’s because it’s true! I have seen it with my own eyes; and I have experienced it in my own life. There is something very special that happens at the shed… it’s almost like a special magic. Those who allow the love to fill their hearts and open their minds stick around, and excel… those who are skeptical of LOVE in general tend to find other places to train. It’s hard to explain, but it’s just the way things are!
This year’s Jani-Ro event was a success, but we raised much less money than previous years… nonetheless, we still helped many women receive mammograms they otherwise couldn’t afford. But as we grow as a community, it gets more difficult to sustain the awareness of our roots, and the stories of how we started and who we helped along the way.
The LOVE was there in the beginning, and it’s still alive and well in the present… we each need to do our part to share the LOVE and MAGIC that is RedShed CrossFit!
❤️
Bonus points for mentioning favorite place to nap!
Olive LOVE!
❤️💜💙💚💛
<3
"all I know all I know love will save the day"