Discovering My Passion and Exercise Groove with Essentrics®
It was March 2019 when I attended a Women’s Fitness Event where there were two options available. “Hi Fit” - a high impact cardio program (super fun workout) or, in a small room off to the side, something called “Classical Stretch” (aka Essentrics®).
There were 5 or 6 women viewing a DVD that a 70-ish year old gentleman was presenting. He was sharing his personal victories with the program in relieving pain from his arthritic knees. I was 55 years old and certainly didn’t feel a pull towards such a program. No arthritis yet.
I was perplexed.
My running days were becoming sporadic due to my hips and knees complaining, cardio classes were aggravating my knees (likely due to years of poor alignment) and now my option seemed to be something that reminded me of “Sit and be Fit??” . Swimming appeared to be a good option but getting my hair wet every day? And sliding into a cool pool? Shudder. This definitely is not my cup of tea.
But as I walked past the room, my eyes were drawn to the woman on the screen.
Her body. It moved like someone in their 20’s but she was 70+. She didn’t look like a typical fitness instructor. Her movements were so fluid. There were no airs about her.
Her voice. She spoke as a friend would speak to a friend, casual yet confident, using imagery to explain movements. When she spoke, she was very matter of fact - everything made so much sense.
I found myself walking into the room and sitting down. And then I heard the words that changed my fitness goals forever. She said,
“When you are in your 90’s you should be able to get your sweater off, get out of bed and get off the toilet all by yourself.”
She added,
“Fitness should not be measured in miles, speed or muscle mass but rather it should be measured by one's ability to move freely, live actively and without pain.”
BINGO! That was really all I wanted.
I didn’t want to climb Mount Everest or swim across the Atlantic. I simply wanted to be able to move without pain with full mobility into my senior years. I wanted to get up and down from the floor, play in the playground with my grands and hike, bike and walk without pain.
But could a program like this give me all that?
The next day I stopped my running routine and began practicing for 20 minutes via YouTube with Miranda Esmonde White, the creator of Essentrics®. Within a few days I noticed changes. Four in particular:
The stairs. I had been regularly using the handrail and my knees were unhappy. Within a few days I was going up and down with ease, pain free.
My lower, corner kitchen cupboard. I was questioning why I put so many often-used items in this particular cupboard as it was getting to be a nuisance to access. I found I was having to use the countertop to pull myself back up. After ten days or so practicing Essentrics® my pots and pans stayed put and I wasn’t hauling myself up from the deep knee bend.
My hips and lower back were not stiff when I stood after prolonged sitting or driving. I didn’t ‘need a minute’ to readjust and loosen up. I could stand up without that initial ‘hobble’.
I could reach the top cupboard!
I was skeptical. I didn’t want to give all the credit to something that appeared to be ‘too easy”. I considered that the improvements were simply because I was not running or doing anything high impact to aggravate my joints. What about cardio?
As the days turned into weeks the changes were indisputable.
I took note that my heartrate DID get up there while doing an Essentrics® routine! I wanted to know EVERYTHING about this program and decided to order the instructor materials simply for my own personal use. I was a kindergarten teacher, not a fitness instructor! I just wanted the ‘inside info’ as to why this program was so effective.
Fast forward and I have now been certified as a Level 4 Essentrics® Instructor for the past 5 years.
The feedback from hundreds of participants (I teach on-line and in-person) has been phenomenal. There is a great deal of science behind Essentrics®.
And it feels so darn good! And when we feel good, we DO good and when we DO good there is a ripple effect that changes lives for the better while enriching our own. It’s one of life’s most beautiful, natural cycles.
I love being reminded, every day, that our bodies were designed to last our entire life. And my new favorite mantra?
“Age will not change us. We will change the way we age!”.
About the Author
Lindsay Anderson, 61 is a Level 4 Certified Essentrics® Instructor living in Alberta, Canada. Lindsay stumbled upon the Essentrics® Technique just as she was completing her 18th year working in the kindergarten classroom. Lindsay runs a Soup and Salad business from home and has worked part time with special needs adults for the past 35 years. Lindsay has been teaching Essentrics® for 5 years both virtually and in-person. Lindsay and her husband enjoy all the fun their 14 grandchildren bring to their lives. You can contact Lindsay through her website.
