Motivation

Hello Friends,

Some of my lady friends suggested that I should write something on the occasion of Women’s Day or in general, for women and fitness, gracing the occasion. I had started on the thought process since two weeks or so, but never got to finish it until now. It’s still Women’s Week, right?

So here it is!
Long Post Alert !!

To be honest and how else! when writing to all of you, I want to share reflections from my past. I never got pampered growing up or after I got married. It was not to happen by design and hence have no regrets, there’s nothing I missed.

Childhood and Growing Up.

I was brought up in a semi-rural city, in a middle class family. We were two brothers and two sisters, needless to say, we had our expectations cut out when growing up. A family of 6 with only my Dad earning, not really a deal breaker for making ends meet, but rather a blessing in disguise when it comes to grooming a thought process or building a future/career for each one of us.
We were a very happy family and there was nothing we did not have. We kids were fiercely independent, did all our chores as to convey our allegiance to our parents. Growing up in semi-rural part of India teaches lots of lessons early on. Where in a missed bus could mean a day lost. I learned how to be multi-tasking and how to manage my day from dawn to dusk. And patience was built slowly by the daily hour long commutes to the nearest city.

What You Think, You Become.

I never wanted to be overweight, sedentary in my life, growing up I was very active and moreover competitive when it came to games and stuff. With this passion I fought with my parents to pay for my after school Karate class. Did a couple of belts, then the instructor left his job. Really, the place where we lived ultimately became too much of a big hurdle to overcome and I had to be contended with making sure I did my graduation, PG and then got married.

Man Proposes, God Disposes.

How often we think of being in a position which will work in our favour and in reality it does not. My complexion had my parents worried when I used to get rejected for that reason. I got sick and tired of the whole process of meetings for alliances and one day took a decision. Told it to my parents.
“I am going to entertain one last meeting now and if it does not work I will not get married.”

A New Beginning

My decision gave a huge burden for my parents. They still kept their efforts and then told me one day.
“Today a young man is coming to see you from a big city. We are sure this will be a good match as the horoscope is matching well.”

I awaited my Prince Charming.
Having not seen any picture of him, I decided to meet him directly face to face when he arrives at my parents’ house.
Then he comes with his parents. He was fair, tall and lean. Since he was fair, but not too fair, still fairer than me, I thought the moment he sees me he would reject me.

The meeting happened, he asked very few questions. I gave all the answers looking in the eyes as my parents had taught me. I asked him a few questions and he replied to my satisfaction. He seemed to be a simple guy coming from a bigger city.

After the meeting he talked to his parents and I talked to mine. I said he seems good and it’s up to him now if he finds I am okay for him. He came back quickly within minutes and conveyed that he is okay for the match.

Now I was in a fix. I found myself in a unfamiliar territory. Did he really say yes?
Yes, he did!
And it was in fact a resounding yes as I soon realised his thinking is broad and that he hardly felt I had unfavourable complexion.
My life had taken a turn and I was super happy.

Some relocation for his job happened and I gracefully accepted this as we welcomed our first son. As we thought to settle in the new city and welcomed our second son, very soon life took another turn and this was a decisive one which sowed the seeds of my ambitions in the area of fitness.

Journey To Fitness.

A career boost for him saw us relocate to the US and that for a long term. The best part came on day one when he told me –
“We have a gym at walkable distance and you can enrol to get yourself trained in martial arts there,” knowing that I had a passion for the same.

Never once, had I doubted my ability that whether I would be able to start this journey after two kids and at age 34. In fact, I joined the program and went head first into learning a fantastic new skill. It was a hard and long process, getting trained under a Korean Master and most of my fellow students were teens and that too well built teens. Very soon I realised that there was no discrimination and I was soon friends with a multi cultural group of students from 6 countries. Not even my limitation to speak fluently in English bothered me or anyone. Lucky to have chums who never judge you on anything, God sent!

My elder son had started schooling then and younger found a “day care” at the gym. So I was relieved and used to spend hours and hours at the gym, other than my 1 hour training of martial arts.

Self Learning Is Good

I was able to gauge a lot of my abilities during my gym time. Mostly, I used to be alone and within a month I learned to use all the equipments. The foolhardiness of trying out some heavy weights also happened in those times along with some precious lessons in technique and form. Along with my martial arts training we used to have Fridays for sparring. Even with the protective gear, sparring with raging, hyper active teens was not a joke, I got hit some times very badly. Some of my weekends used to be spent in healing, with my better half by my side, holding me firmly, giving me strength. Because, I would not miss my Monday class at any cost.

Completed the curriculum of First degree black belt in Taekwondo, belt by belt, month by month and finally the day arrived.

Black Belt Testing

The culmination of colors of all the belts converge into the Black Belt. With rigorous training the stage was set to clear the test.
Carpe Diem!
Three and half years in the making, since joining the program, I proudly wore the Dan I Black Belt. Very well earned and fiercely sought.

It wasn’t easy at all.
But, was it worth?
Yes!
Every day of the training was worth and to get to do what I loved was the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

My strength was my hubby always by my side, juggling his office work, but he never missed any of my belt tests, took thousands of pictures, hundreds of videos. My memories are safe and give me goosebumps when ever I play them back.

There was not a single reason I thought, I would not be able to reach that stage. Because my mind never allowed any thought of quitting. The ratio of students who join the program at white belt and then actually continue to go ahead and complete the black belt is 100:1.
I am so happy to be have done that.

Time and again, my stint in the US with the martial arts program, the diligence to learn the skill, overcome the sparring injuries, look forward and try to be one of the best, the inter club tournaments, all of that, gives me a boost in my life any time I feel low or unhappy. I got this as my permanent motivator and by sharing my story I wish this will be a good motivator to you all.

Whenever you want to get ahead to improve upon your fitness, learn a new skill or overcome any health issues. It is always possible, seek out help and guidance, ask for direction, set your timetable to the hour, be diligent, get in the grind, put your 100%.

Achieve.

Thank you.

By Poonam Shravage

Strength & Conditioning Coach

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