Why Move, Why Holism

Thoughts From a Tree

Why Gym, why run, why play, why holism. My WHY

Well this is'nt actually my "why do I train" although its pretty much the same, this is my "Why do I want to create places and opportunities for other to train"

As I write this I currently own a gym and use it to coach Functional Fitness Classes for a broad range of ages and abilities and 1-1 training. I say Functional to broadly encapsulate all the areas I utilise in sessions, within the gym theres a big lean towards the other 3 key areas of health; Mind, Nutrition, and Environment. I also coordinate and Volunteer at ParkPlay sessions, which are free weekly sessions of inclusive games for all ages.

Why do I do the Above things

Because I think it is very important for people to move, be active and feel alive! -That was quick, short blog done-

Please keep reading, I can be serious - Honest, it actually get rather deep.....

Is it to Help people lose weight?

Although it is in part this, and we can see that there is a health concern here, this is not my complete why. It is as all my points will be an important pathway or side line to achieving the why but on its own is not the reason I pour so much of my life into this.

Is it to help build strength and athletic ability?

Its a lot of this but its not my why; no one as ever complained about being too strong, or too athletic, as long as it stays functional and not injury prone. Its a massive part in the gym, and is a great pathway on to acheiving the why, but its not a stand alone

To look good, the aesthetics?

Right this one is quite low down on the agenda, its the happy side effect of being fit, health, strong, useful... I do admit in a subjective way aesthetics help towards the survival of the human race but and its a biggy each person has a different perspective on what is aesthetically pleasing to aid in procreation and therefore what the media bound obsession of aesthetics in fitness is, is mostly how my child may put an antiquity, looks good, costs a lot but is often unused. Caveat to a certain point, if it gets you started on a health journey its good, as long as it doesn't flip over into the unhealthy. (could historically say the same for sports as well, watch https://youtu.be/E4GVx2HnzqM?is=rcAnP1GbzBhhKyzq

My Why do I want to create places and opportunities for others to move and train is

It saved me, and I want that for others, and I never want people to get to the point my brother did in 2009. My why is to help take people from feeling stuck to a place they have the energy to do what the want. Its the whole picture the Holistic view of Health, Fitness, Movement, there is no disconnect of the mind, brain, skeleton, muscles, nerves, skin .......... My view for Bowland Fitness is we want to help you!

The Story:

October the Month this goes out is always a weird month that I try to make as positive as I can. In October 2009 my brother took his own life, in emotional pain and feeling stuck he in a moment decided that was the only way out, just over a week before his birthday. Double memory hit. But once I started the recovery, I say started as it will allways be an ongoing recovery, the why dawned on me.

I was now also stuck- to be real with you, I was drinking to get out of bed, doing stupid things, and was also in a position of seeing one way out. Luckily I had friends in the right places at the right times, and the control of (at the time 2 things) nutrition, and fitness training. It wasn't plain sailing mind, at times the training was heavily cathartic, but the nutrition eventually replaced the drinking, and I started to go down what would become the holistic route.

Every October I now produce a (4H ) a flip on this terrible month into something where I put out Holistic help in memory of my brother AKA. H.

Over the years Bowland Fitness became increasingly more Holistic. Moving from Fitness and Nutrition, first into Movement and Nutrition and Optimal Adaptation was born, helping people with injuries (who felt physically stuck) into being free to move. (from a young age I struggled with ongoing pain, which meant I got real life learning into reconnecting the body). Through my ongoing work with clients I was always researching new ways and better ways, sometimes even a way for those really stuck, this took me down the mind route or how no system works alone! This was the Applied Movement Neurology years, And I felt I was making massive differences in peoples lives.

Working with connections and pathways between mind and body, and now going down the holistic practices and research for earthing, sunlight, coldwater, breathwork, brain nutrition. Hello Rabbit Hole, hello future.

The Why was becoming more prominant, to help more people who feel stuck achieve freedom through Holistic Health and Fitness, it was all about Optimal Adaptation for each Individual.

Theres a beautiful lineality here (all is connected)

Around all the time this was going on I was building a family with Hetty, actively learning that sense of belonging, community.... as well as the fact myself and Hetty where building the early stages of how her skills of Hypnotherapy connect right in to Fitness and that Holistic Health and Fitness organisation.

What better way to become unstuck than to combine such a succesful practice like hypnotherapy, with the active functionality of movement and the energy sources of nutrition, light and earth. All those cool Electrons, Ions and Photons!

We role on to the birth of Bowland Fitness, the gym, the holistic health centre, and to working on Farming Stronger 4 Longer, and with ParkPlay, truly helping people through more avenues that people can relate to, and access more readily.

Over the last 10 years of this journey we as Bowland Fitness and myself with the new avenues have truly been able to be part of something that will benefit people now and for many years to come.

You probably don't need saving

BUT

We all get a bit stuck time to time, I know I do, for me when I do, I need to move for sure, sometimes I need to set aside time to learn and write, sometimes I need to write a heartfelt blog! For you, it might be that no matter what you can't lose the weight, you have a stange ache or pain that wont go, or that doesnt make sense! Maybe you have tried all sorts of things but nothing helps. Maybe you wake up inceasingly more tired, lethargic or an unexplainable "not quite right feeling. It maybe you want to find a community, or have a chat whilst you do something that takes your mind off "talking it out", maybe you can't talk about it but movement relieves the feelings. Maybe you just need some time away from everyone to do something positive for yourself, and maybe you just love training, eating good food, getting outside, and chilling in a sound journey!

I Leave you with this..

My final point here gets more philosophical/religious, theres a meaning right? a calling. I've never made tonnes of money out of this, and I've not drifted from my why in the pursuit of building a business, that because in my mind deep within who I am, and how was brought up, seated in my beliefs, and in how I connect to the world around me, this is my Why, My Meaning, not really a choice but something I believe I should be doing.

A why born out of the worst into something a forever hope will be positive.

This is 4 H, and anyone else who ever feels stuck

Happy Thoughts from this Tree to you

Matt