This year we’re asking you to choose some focus words for how you want to be and feel in the next 3 to 6 months – your Future You! Our goal at PARC is to inspire and motivate you to be active, happy and connected and become the best version of yourself.   

To achieve this, one of the ways we can support is by providing advice on how to make the most of your focus words. For this blog post we’ve chosen STRONG, a multifaceted word that can relate to your physical, mental and emotional health.  

The first question to ask is, ‘what does strength mean to you and how do you want to feel stronger?’ We’ve broken it down into the three meanings of the word to help you think about what you want your Future You to look like.  

Physically STRONG 

When we talk about being physically strong, we are usually referring to weight training to build muscles that allow you to lift heavy things. Over the last decade we’ve been educating our members on the importance of weight and strength training, particularly for women.  There are so many benefits of increasing our physical strength, including 

• Burn more energy in less time; 
• Supports the increase in mobility and range of motion; 
• Helps increase your bone health as you age; 
• Improves metabolism; and 
• Great for cardiovascular health. 

Physical strength training programs are so individual as every person has different needs and goals. At PARC as you join, we organise an appointment with a qualified trainer who will work with you to develop a tailored program that meets your needs. These programs will always incorporate some strength training due to the importance of it within a workout.   

Within our Small Group Training membership you get access to a personal trainer in a small group on a weekly basis who can help and support you to increase your physical strength. This keeps you more accountable and provides increased progression in achieving your goals. Find out more about our Small Group Training membership here.  

Mentally STRONG 

For holistic wellbeing we want to encourage members to understand the importance of their mental health alongside physical health. Being mentally strong directly correlates with a positive mindset and means that you can be the best version of yourself, feeling more active, happy and connected.  

We’ve talked before about the benefits of mindfulness in our previous Future You blog. Being able to calm your mind is such a beneficial way to be mentally strong and not letting your mind get carried away with thoughts and distractions.  

The benefits of mindfulness and mediation to build mental strength include; 

• Increased capability to concentrate and focus on tasks; 
• Manage stress and pressure more effectively; 
• Increases your productivity; and 
• Regulate your emotions. 

Don’t forget at PARC we also have meditation classes in studio and available on PARC Your Way, which is available to everyone who wants to give it a try.  

All these benefits are so important in relation to your overall health and you might find that building your mental strength will directly improve your commitment to your physical health.   

Emotionally STRONG 

Emotional strength can be a complex goal for a lot of people, as it is different for everyone. Being able to regulate your emotions, have emotional confidence and resilience ensures you can pave the way to achieving your Future You quicker.  

Some ways to foster emotional strength can be looking after what you put into your body and your nutrition. We all know that comfort eating never makes us feel good in the end and it is usually our emotions that lead us down that path.   

By taking control of what you consume and how you consume it is a positive first step in building your emotional strength. At PARC as part of our programs we incorporate education and advice on nutrition and health as we understand how important it is as part of your overall health and wellbeing.  

Another way to build emotional strength is through the acknowledgement and understanding of a positive mindset. Being kind to yourself and giving yourself space to feel your emotions so that you can regulate and not let them get out of control. Many people find journaling and intention setting a great way to prioritise this in your life.  

The word ‘STRONG’ can mean so many different things to different people and if you are putting it into practice for the Future You, think about which area you want to work on the most. To give yourself more accountability remember you can write a letter to your Future self that we will then post to you in the future! Incorporate your focus words within that letter and you can reflect on how it helped you set an intention to achieve your goals! 

Write a letter to Future You

Write a letter to your future self, and PARC will post it to you in the future – to see how you are tracking against your health goals.By writing this letter and visualising your Future You throughout the year, it will keep you motivated and accountable! Plus, when the letter arrives in the mail, you can see how you tracked against your health goals.

Click here to write your letter via our website!

Let’s kick-start 2023 with a focus on your health and wellbeing. We’re here to help! Enquire now to join PARC.