Beyond the Hold: Finding Stillness Our First Italian Summer

This month, we're challenging you to hold. Sixty seconds of focused muscle engagement, finding that sweet spot where your body is working hard to stay absolutely still. Scientifically, we call this an isometric contraction your muscles are firing to stabilise, building strength and, yes, even a little bit of timing.

But as a busy mum of two, about to dive headfirst into the glorious chaos of the first three-month summer holiday here in Italy, something else has been on my mind: stillness.

It's not exactly my forte, this stillness thing. My natural rhythm tends to be more of a high-speed juggle – work deadlines, family life, always pushing, always planning. Even when I carve out "me time," it often morphs into mentally prepping the next task, the evening meal, or even the next blog post! Sound familiar, fellow multi-taskers?

And while all this buzzing around has its own kind of energy, I know the flip side all too well. The exhaustion that creeps in, the grey-faced moments, the short temper that makes me less than delightful company. Some might call it burnout, a trendy term perhaps, but sometimes I just think it's a deep-seated need for a bit of quiet. To switch off the tech, step outside not for a workout, but simply to be.

It takes me back to a time I wouldn't necessarily choose to revisit, but one that gifted me a profound lesson. After my accident at 28, I was a whirlwind of career ambition and life energy. Sitting still felt like a personal failure. Then, suddenly, I was confined to bed in my parents' living room, my world shrunk to the pecking of a curious chicken at the window and the comforting ritual of endless cups of tea. It was tough, undeniably. But in that enforced stillness, something shifted. I learned that not moving could be just as important as moving.

So, forgive me if I seem to contradict our usual mantra of encouraging movement. This month, alongside those strengthening holds, I want to champion the power of stillness. Tuning into your headspace, allowing yourself to simply be without the pressure to do.

Bloody hell, let's aim for a little balance, shall we?