Anikó at The Therapy Gym

I've recently started therapy again.

I LOVE therapy. I get so excited and energised by it that I wonder at the start of each session whether I'll be able to connect with my distress at all. I dream of a world where everyone has overcome financial and emotional barriers and got themselves into therapy.

Being in therapy is also important for my work as a therapist. It's good to be reminded of what it's like to be sitting in the other chair. It keeps me humble. It helps me offer therapy to my clients that is non-judgemental and non-hierarchical, which is what I want for myself as a client.

Therapy is brilliant, but it requires a brilliant therapist. Brilliant is not the same as perfect, and it's a little different for everyone. My own brilliant therapist can't be very cognitive-behaviourally minded, because I don't need a lot of help with my thinking. I need witnessing, empathy, meaning-making and existential exploration.

We don't outgrow the need to process life with help from other people. It doesn't always have to be a formal therapeutic alliance, but there is something special about talking to someone who has been trained to listen with care.

Go to therapy, y'all!

"There are lots of things that never go by rule, / There's a powerful pile o' knowledge / That you never get at college, / There are heaps of things you never learn at school".

Learning from Anne of the Island, age 10-ish 🥹

I still stand by that quote!

This brought a wee tear to my eye.

Pausing for a moment in the busyness of the patchwork quilt that is my work life, I'm filled with gratitude.

I find myself reflecting on deepening relationships with old clients and half-expected moments of closeness with new ones. Vulnerabilities needing to be held, feelings of tenderness and worry, allowing myself to be moved. The good news and the bad news, the ups and downs of people's lives that I get to witness and, in some ways, be a part of.

I'm grateful for my students who are open to learning and growing, because no matter how much experience and expertise you might have, you can't teach someone who isn't willing to learn. There is no greater gift for a trainer than an engaged class.

I'm especially grateful for supervision today, where I can take a break from all the holding I do and just be held. My job is very rewarding but it doesn't auto-recharge me (I sometimes wish it did, a perpetuum mobile of a profession, but until that's invented I'm having to supplement with nourishment found elsewhere).

Managing my diary is challenging these days, and I'm grateful for it because it allows me to feel needed, to feel like we're doing good work, maybe even changing the world one session at a time, and in some ways that's a small thing, and in other ways it's everything.

Most of us probably prefer to run in good weather. Sadly, that's not always an option. If you're only willing to run in the sun, you might miss out on a lot of wet fun, and no, I'm not deliberate writing poetry, it just came out that way.

Just make sure you take those wet shoes off ASAP.

A client offered up this gift of a testimonial at the end of our work together. Unsolicited but gratefully received. The time we spent together was very meaningful to me, as it clearly was to him. 🩵🙏

"I was experiencing issues with mental blockages with regard to important work that I needed to complete. It had been a longstanding issue for me and I sought help to work through the barriers and to stay focused on my goals. The regular opportunities to discuss progress and to explore what was holding me back, was hugely beneficial, and helped me to realise the project to the deadline I'd hoped for. Aniko's support was fantastic. She helped me explore fundamental issues and helped me to make progress in my life and work."

Today's adventurun: 18.5km total, undulating hills, sheep and cows, golden sun, the Museum of Rural life, coffee and Biscoff slice, ploughs and harrows, animal portraits, Winter Wonderland features, hot soup, apple tart and ice cream, Nutcracker vibes, sunset in Queen's Park.

Is it my holistic consideration of mind + body?

Is it my keen interest in exercise physiology and nutrition?

Is it my person-centred, experiential and individualised approach to fitness?

Is it my many and varied qualifications?

No.

It is the cat that will join you for your end-of-session relaxation if you're lucky.

What can I say.

It's a vibe.

Today's adventurun: low winter sun, crisp cold, energy-demanding elevations, insidious ice, rich countryside vibes, rhubarb pie and ABBA, darling dog walkers, sunlit cemeteries, coffee and clever outfit changes, thermoregulatory challenges, a grumpy back, a refreshed soul, a hot water bottle.

I went on another running adventure today! 18.8km / 2hrs 8 mins in total, with many map-reading mishaps, uncooperative gloves, loud cows, good cake and not-so-good cake, and lots of sunshine, some of it right in my eye 😅

Absolutely knackered but what a day! And I'd happily do it again, though maybe not tomorrow. And I guess I'll have to; the Budapest Spring Half Marathon ain't gonna run itself! 

Before, during and after pics. I'll let you work out which is which.

This is my favourite bedtime snack/meal. It's so simple and effective, and infinitely variable.

Last night I had 100g kefir, 50g Skyr, 50g coconut milk, 50g frozen strawberries, 50g frozen black forest fruits, 20g oats, 10g flaxseeds and 5g chia seeds all mixed together. Left it for about 30 minutes, topped with fresh figs and toasted almonds, et voila!

Why I run (and why you should consider it too)

First things first: you don't HAVE TO run. There are a million ways to get your heart rate up. As long as you put your cardiovascular system under regular strain, you can be healthy and fit without running.

That said, running is wonderful and I'd like you to give it a try.

There are many ways to run, many mistakes people often make when they first take it up, and a lot of guidance out there already, so these are just a few pointers from me mostly based on my personal experience.

1. If you've tried and hated it, it's possible that you tried to run too fast from the get-go. I mean too fast for warm-up and in general. If you're new to running, you need to run MUCH slower than you'd think.

2. Fitness is more fun when you're fit. Sometimes you need to build up some aerobic capacity before you start to properly enjoy running.

3. You can train in a range of settings, including indoors on a treadmill, but some environments will spark a lot more joy than others. I'm grateful for the park near me as it's convenient and allows me to get some fresh air, but it's not my favourite place to run as it's busy, with too many dogs, and the laps are too short.

4. Running can give you a feeling of freedom that is special.

5. As you get into running, you may find that you enjoy training in a structured way, e.g. for a race, or the opposite: you may get the most out of just getting lost in the flow, with no structure and no goal. Both preferences are perfectly legitimate.

6. As with other activities, learn from and be inspired by others, but don't fall into the comparison trap. Make running YOUR thing.

7. Get good shoes.

8. Warm-up can feel tough on certain days even if you're experienced. Don't be disheartened. You'll find the joy again.