Thoughts on Exercise from Jennifer Cooper from Jennifer Cooper Timesaver
One of the aims of The Enjoy Movement is to broaden conversations around fitness and exercise. There has been a dominant narrative for many years, that you have to look a certain way to exercise and that exercise or sport is only for you if you are ‘good’ at it. This message has resulted in many women feeling excluded, feeling they don’t ‘fit’ and subsequently not leading active lives.
My mission with this series of blogs ‘My Movement My Way’ is to share alternative stories and experiences of how women keep active in the hope this inspires other women to find their fitness mojo. The more we hear a variety of messages that challenge the traditional notions of what fitness is, more women will feel encouraged to find some form of activity that they can enjoy.
Jennifer Cooper is a freelance administrative support and small business cheerleader. After a long career in retail she suffered an accident at work and was motivated to take control of her health. School sport had a big influence on how she viewed herself in relation to exercise (as it has done for many women) and it has taken many years to reset that mindset and enjoy regular exercise.
I wanted to share Jenny’s story as I think it shows how our childhood experiences can define our relationship with exercise, but that we can change, even as adults. Being active is a broad spectrum and you have to move in a way that feels right for you. We do not all have to be doing high intensity exercise, it’s better to find something you enjoy, that fits in with your life, as that is the way to consistently build it in to your life.
How has your relationship with exercise evolved over the years?
I was a child who grew up in a family where exercise wasn’t part of the dialogue. You didn't play sport or exercise. Although walking and getting in the fresh air was encouraged, it was never talked about in terms of the benefits for your health and fitness. I went to a very competitive sporty school. Huge importance was placed on getting in the first 11 and competing on a national level for the school. If you weren’t good at sport you were ignored. That experience set a mindset that sport and exercise wasn’t for me.
The first healthy active thing I discovered for myself was cycling. I went to Cambridge University and cycling gave me the freedom I needed. We cycled everywhere, it was just part of our lives and the whole city was set up for it with cycle lanes and bike lock ups. It was so easy to be active because it fitted in with our routines and daily life. If you were going to work, to study or to meet your friends, you went on a bike. It was easy to be active.
When we moved down to Kent it was difficult to cycle. The roads were busy and we were in a rural location, but we used to do a lot of walking. I had some health issues when getting pregnant and then any sort of exercise or activity stopped. I had my two girls and worked for years in a retail environment where, again, being active was part of the job. I walked 30, 000 steps a day, up and down stairs constantly lifting and carrying. So being active was part of my life again. But a serious accident at work meant that I left my retail job. Of course, this then had an impact on my activity levels again.
A few years later, once I felt well enough, I knew that I want to improve my health for the long term and knew being active was going to be an important part of this. I didn’t know what to do as I thought the options were yoga or the high intensity exercise classes/army bootcamps that other mums from school were doing. Neither of these were right for me as I thought I would stick out like a sore thumb!
A conversation with a friend meant I met you, Carole, and you showed me that exercise doesn’t have to be like this and can actually be something for everyone to enjoy. I have been able to exercise at my own pace and learned to enjoy the physical and mental benefits I get from it. It feels very different to competitive sport at school! One thing you said initially, when we first started working together, was that I didn’t need any special clothing or trainers. I would have been very uncomfortable going into a fitness shop. Knowing I didn’t have to do this, and you would welcome me in whatever clothes I wore, made me feel more confident.
What are your current motivations and challenges?
Turning 40! When I have my 40+ GP check-up I want to go to that appointment feeling good, telling them that I exercise regularly and not get a lecture! Also, I want to keep being active for my general fitness and wellbeing.
What would be the one thing you would say to your younger self about exercise?
I wish there had been a you, Carole! I wish there had been someone to show me that you can just exercise for fun and that you don’t have to be the best to enjoy it. You can just exercise in a way that feels good for you and not worry about what anyone else is doing.
Jenny provides freelance virtual support and is a brilliant cheerleader for small and local business.