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Summer is about to be here!...And it's about to get different.
We see it every year...as the sun comes out and we start looking at June, July, and August there's a tangible change in the air. Being in town every day at a small business, I can tell you that there's a distinct shift in the rhythm and flow of how people move around the streets. Cars shoot down the alley a little faster, the coffee shops are busier, and youth get to walk around with ice cream cones and books during what would normally be school hours.
Seasonal change is normal. Seasons are one of the reasons we live in the PNW instead of LA. We love to see flowers bloom in the rejuvenating, enlivening energy of spring, then feel the enthusiasm and release of long sunny summer days. We rejoice in putting on sweaters in the crisp thoughtful air of fall, and finally retreat into the repose and introspection (and suffering?...for me at least) of winter. When we realize that these changes are normal and expected, it's easy to evolve our summer fitness routine to fit the season.
Here's the thing about summer fitness - there isn't a routine. It's not going to look structured and make sense like the other seasons. It never is. It's irregular and hectic. Peak summer energy can feel like being one step from going off the rails as you juggle everything you want to do! But incorporating fitness is one of the most effective things you can do because fitness is a grounding practice in itself - it will keep you solid and rooted amidst the chaos. It can be an anchor that keeps you centered amidst the swirl of social events.
The sociable nature of summer can be a double edged sword after all. Fun and play on the one hand, burn-out and losing yourself on the other. When folks drop off over summer with the age-old "I'll start up again in the fall", or my favorite: "I'll start again when things are less crazy"...Yeah right...when have things ever gotten less crazy on their own? The next time I see them is in the grocery store two years later and it's like "Where did the time go, I need to get back there!" We're not just talking about loss of strength either, but also loss of momentum, body-connection, physicality, and all the psychological factors that go with.
Fitness isn't just physical. It's an energy of action, a mindset of self-priority, and an attitude of committment to self. It will contain and ground you through the whirlwind. It enriches your enjoyment of other activities. Instead of thinking you can either have friends OR go to the gym, sign up for some classes together.
Summer is a peak time of year where a lot happens. Even the trees are putting out new leaves and the animals are playing more. I say use fitness to enjoy every part of it - from the long sweaty hikes to the cool evening BBQs. Summer is a time to play, so come in and sweat, give yourself permission to do some messy reps at a different class time, and let the grounded and playful energy of the gym make summer feel like recess.
Best,
Josh