Over a hundred women signed up for the #topdowntguchallenge this week.
Every day we learn a tiny piece of the Turkish get-up and practice ONLY THAT ONE PART.
It's been SO AWESOME to see all of these women working on learning the Turkish get-up OR working on improving their technique.
They are slowing down the movement.
Taking time to breath and become more aware of how their body moves.
They are becoming acquainted with the get-up on a WHOLE new level.
And you know what?
Because of all that, their technique is damn good.
When you’re doing a challenge like this, it’s easy to get caught up in the game of comparing yourself to others.
With social media, we can check and see how other people are doing and WHEN we see someone that we perceive to be “doing better” than us, we can’t help but feel discouraged.
Same goes for ANYTIME we begin a new fitness practice.
If we are going to the gym or a class, we look around and observe where other people are.
We begin to size them up and then move on to ourselves...
“I’ll never look like that.”
“I’ll never be that good.”
“I’m too old to do this.”
“I’ve had too many [babies, injuries, too few years in fitness], etc. to ever be that fit.”
Personally, I look at people online ALL OF THE TIME and accidentally put them on a pedestal.
I look at their level of fitness or business success (in the video of photo posted online, which isn’t always the whole story…) and I make judgements, about them, about myself, about my process.
And SOMETIMES that briefly stops me from progressing.
Sometimes that makes me feel bad about where I am and discourages me from continuing to work.
But over the years I have learned that EVERYTHING I WANT OUT OF LIFE is on the other side of those feelings.
I HAVE to break through them, if I’m ever going to get anywhere.
I have to mute the messages in my head or online that tell me, “I’m not good enough.” OR “I can’t be me.”
With the #topdowntguchallenge, we are seeing lots of different people moving intentionally, beautifully, and I’m telling you, I am SUPER impressed by what you all are doing.
I especially love the posts that say, “I didn’t think I could do this, but I did it!!”
I mean, that’s what this challenge is all about.
That’s what strength training and kettlebell work is all about!
Learning to see ourselves as capable people that can grow and challenge ourselves, improve and do amazing things.
And our process won’t look like anyone else’s.
Our bodies aren’t going to look like other people’s either.
My geometry is not your geometry, so my movement will take a different shape than yours and yours will take a different shape than someone else’s.
Yes there are fundamental guidelines that we follow for technique and safety, but the body interprets these things in it’s own unique and beautiful way.
Practice is practice.
Progress is progress.
And people are people.
We are all different.
Always, always let your process meet you where you are TODAY and lead you to where YOU WISH TO GROW.
Don’t get distracted when you see other people potentially progressing faster than you, or looking more “perfect” than you.
Keep your head down.
Maintain your focus.
I promise you, all those people you compared yourself to will start to fade away into the background and you will like where you end up.
You will feel proud of yourself.
If you want to learn more about the Top Down Turkish Get-Up Challenge OR get on the waitlist for my upcoming 10 week Kettlebell Instruction and Workout course, Kettlebells For Cool Kids!
**The challenge has ended, but you can learn the Turkish GetUp in my program, Kettlebells For Cool Kids™
Head to this website now! www.kettlebellsforcoolkids.com
Sarah Smith is a personal trainer, level two Russian Kettlebell Instructor, postnatal fitness specialist and pelvic floor and gut health advocate working online and in Raleigh, North Carolina.
She specializes in helping women online and in-person feel strong, confident and capable in their bodies!
Sarah is a mom to three boys and one English Bulldog. She loves soil, coffee and not folding laundry.