No. 3

‘Movement is not punishment for what you ate, or a means to fit someone else’s ideal. It’s freedom in your body, and a celebration of what that body can do.’

So it’s definitely time we got into movement, as that’s what most of you will know me for, and my purpose in life is to get people of all ages, sizes, abilities to move and to feel confident doing it. This is a topic we’ll come back to in many different ways over time, but here is a great place to start… 

For so many years, women were taught to see movement as a way to shrink themselves, the message was everywhere: in magazines, diet culture, and the idea that our worth was somehow tied to how little space we could take up. Exercise was sold as punishment for eating, or a route to an ‘ideal body’ that, truthfully, didn’t and doesn’t exist.

Here’s the reality about a ‘perfect’ body: It has shifted decade-by-decade, so chasing it is exhausting and honestly, impossible. If you take my Peloton rides, you know I love to go back through the decades with my music, (70’s,80’s and 90’s are my SWEET SPOT) but let’s take a quick moment to go through the western ideal body types that have been thrown upon us through the decades. Brace yourselves:

1960s – The Twiggy Era. Ideal: Extremely thin, childlike frame with long legs.

1970s – Natural & Lean. Ideal: Slim, athletic but still lean, with a more ‘natural’ look. Think Farrah Fawcett. 

1980s – Strong & Aerobic. Ideal: Fit, toned, but still slim. We’re talking Jane Fonda style. Visible muscle, but you must make sure it’s ’feminine’. 

1990s – ‘Heroin Chic’. Ideal: Very thin, ‘waif-like’ bodies. We’re in Kate Moss times here, and grunge fashion. 

2000s – Flat Stomach & Low-Rise Jeans. Ideal: Ultra-slim with a flat stomach, small waist, no curves. I mean Britney was giving us ultra low rise jeans, along with the rise of the Victoria’s Secret Angels.

2010s – Curves & Kardashian Influence. Ideal: Hourglass figure - tiny waist, big hips and bum, fuller bust. Introducing the steep rise of cosmetic surgery to make this look attainable, because no amount of squats is getting that shape, I’m sorry. 

2020s – Wellness, ‘Strong not Skinny’ (with a twist). Ideal: Athletic, toned, but not bulky. The ‘Pilates body’. Feels more general, but definitely still a ‘type’. 

And, it’ll go on…

Exhausted just reading that? Me too. The through-line?! The ‘ideal’ body keeps changing, swinging from ultra-thin to curvy to athletic and back again. It means this: even if you manage to mold yourself into one decade’s ideal, by the time the next one rolls around, the goalposts will have shifted. 

The ONLY body worth investing in is the one that carries YOU through life - strong, capable, and uniquely yours. Your body is your home, it's gone through so much that only you really know about, and that’s the body we’re going to focus on moving, because being able to move your body is a PRIVILEGE. 

Building a body that is strong, capable, and resilient? That will NEVER go out of style. 

Strength, energy, and confidence are timeless. 

Strength is being able to run with your kids, pets, friends and everywhere your body can take you. It’s lifting your shopping bags, dancing until midnight, or simply feeling at home in your own skin. It’s also smashing PBs on the bike or at the gym if that’s where you’re at. It’s all of the things beyond a sizing label on some clothes. Strength is freedom at every age and every stage. 

As a coach at Peloton, this is the heartbeat of my work. If even one person can connect to movement as a celebration, not a punishment, through my classes, that’s the greatest reward (for both of us!). When I’m lucky enough to meet members after class, I’m always choked up by the openness and honesty about how Peloton has changed everything for them when it comes to movement. And yet, I’m not surprised, because I’m fanatical about understanding why this shift happens, and I’m always driven to learn and understand more. I am such a fact geek, here’s a few around women and movement: 

Beyond science, movement is an act of empowerment. Every time you choose to move, you’re reminding yourself: my body is not a project, it’s a partner. 

Some days it’s high energy, other days it’s restorative. Both count. Both matter.

And if you need any guidance in getting moving, I’m here for you. It can take a moment to find a rhythm, so be kind with yourselves if this is where you’re at:

1. Start Small, Start Daily - You don’t need an hour at the gym. 10 minutes of movement counts. Daily consistency beats occasional intensity.

2. Mindset: connect Fun & Fitness - Move in ways that make you want to move. Enjoyment keeps you coming back.

3. Accountability is where it’s at - Tracking your progress and sharing your wins (even small ones) creates momentum and makes it fun, not a chore.

So we get to our challenge of the week: 

Less of a challenge and more of a ‘Let’s celebrate movement together’ this week. When you have a moment during movement that makes you feel strong, alive, or just really good in your body this week, send me a DM on instagram or tag me in a story - I’d love to cheer you on! I want selfies, videos, the lot! 

‘When women move, we don’t just change our bodies. We change our energy, our confidence, and our capacity to show up fully in the world.’

I had a few blunders this week, and thought you could have a little giggle or gasp at my expense. I would say these moments follow me through life, but add being pregnant to the mix, and I am finding myself in Mishap Mayhem.

MISHAP 1: Where do I start?! My brain! I was so not prepared for ‘pregnancy brain’, ‘baby brain’ - whatever you want to call it, but it’s a real, actual thing. Like, where has my brain gone? Has it shrivelled to nothing?! Did it fall out? Wherever it is, it’s not in my head. I’ve always prided myself on being organised and on top of things (My Mum will have thoughts on this!), but these days I put the raw dog food that is meant for the freezer or fridge into the cupboard, I forget everyone's names and don’t even ask me why I walked into a room?! I can laugh at myself, and I know I’m not alone in this, but it’s wild. 

MISHAP 2: Last Monday, it was a Bank Holiday in the UK, beautiful weather and we’re nearing the end of Summer so everyone wants to make the most of it. We decided to go to one of our favourite beaches, West Wittering for the day, which has been so peaceful and quiet EVERY time we’ve gone. Not on a Bank Holiday, though. Major mishap! It usually takes 1.5 hours for us to get there, it took over 3 hours this time. You either pull together on these journeys or… you don’t. We didn’t on this occasion, so those few hours were quite unpleasant to say the least. We finally got there, went to find our ‘spot’… and it was completely packed. Not a single patch of beach left for us. We walked for ages in the midday sun (in silence, I might add), eventually sat down for an hour - one hour! - got our picnic out, and Jags ran straight through it. Sand everywhere. The whole thing ruined. Then we had to head home to make sure we didn’t miss our evening plans. 6 hours of travel, a frosty hubby and wife, a restless dog and 1 hour on a beach like sardines with some sandy pineapple. Not our finest moment. Although we did spot a seal! But, this is why you either get up and go to the coast first thing on a bank holiday, or avoid it at all costs!

Side note: Please help me understand why so many people drive to the beach, and set up camp in the car park, which isn't near the beach?! I think I must be missing something here, but I’m so confused?! 

MISHAP 3: We had some work done in the garden to help us hopefully save our flower beds. A mix of a dog who likes to dig and a hot summer has left them looking very sad. Anyway, Jags decided to greet the workmen, not once but twice, with a pair of my knickers. I didn’t notice the second time, so they just stayed in the middle of the garden whilst the men worked around them ALL DAY. Can you cope?! And they weren’t from the fresh washing pile either. Suffice to say, it doesn't matter what happens to the garden, those men are NEVER coming back! 

MISHAP 4: Talking of dogs, I’m in the dog house. New car, and I scraped one of the wheels big time. I’m a great driver in my opinion, very nippy, but the curb got too close to me on this journey. I thought ‘Ben won’t see this’. He did. Immediately. All I’m saying is, never ask me to lie for you, I can’t do it. I wanted to say ‘no idea how that happened’ but my face said it all and I had to endure the ‘I’m not mad, just disappointed’ chat. The worst!

The list could go on, but in true MISHAP style, I can’t remember anything else that happened!