Page 13 - Kwasind June 2020 issue

JUNE 2020 SPORTS • 13
Fitness: When Was The Last Time You Took A Break? Leigh Gavarkovs, Fitness Manager
I was prepared to regale you with facts about exercise and your immune system. Then something happened to me, and I wonder if I am not alone in this.
We are in lockdown, but we are not on vacation.
Let’s think about that sentence for a moment. I did
not realize it, but I have been truly burning out. I have
been trying to learn how to use technology, keep my choreography relevant, finish a certification or two, keep my son at his schoolwork and organize my apartment and my cottage. The whole time, chipping away at this big list of things, I have felt like I am a sloth, and not doing enough. I was more afraid that it would look like I am not doing enough. What began to happen was the things that I love, like teaching, choreography and my son were becoming very challenging for me, and so, not really a lot of fun. This luckily came to a head about two weeks ago. We were headed into a long weekend, which is usually relaxation time, and I was busy writing out a schedule for myself so that I would not forget to do anything. In the middle of this task, I felt so overwhelmed that I started to cry. As I calmed myself down, I threw out my list. Even though it made me feel guilty, I made the decision to not work at all for almost a whole week. The moment I decided to do this, I felt the
tension in my face and shoulders subside. I went in to stream another class, and I told Taylor that I was going to take some time off, and he could not have been more supportive of the idea. My guilt began to recede.
I spent the long weekend planting herbs, going for walks and spending time with my family. I spent a lot of time thinking about why this had been so difficult to do, and then it hit me. I technically am not at work, so I must be on an extended vacation, right? Wrong! I have been working as hard as ever. I really needed the time to put everything down for a few days.
I came to teach this morning. My Instagram and YouTube channels worked again, my class felt natural and not forced, and more importantly, I feel happy again. So, I will ask you one more time, when was the last time you took a break? It is gorgeous outside...go for a walk!