Why Not‪?‬ Chrissy Hawkins

Something that I've noticed a lot recently in the gym is that people seem to think that I don't take rest days and this is far from the truth so today I talk about why they are important

Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting your fitness journey, it’s important to understand that rest is just as vital as the workout itself.

First, I talk about why rest days are essential. When we exercise, especially during intense workouts, we create tiny tears in our muscle fibers. and that without adequate rest, our muscles don't have the opportunity to heal, which can lead to overuse injuries, fatigue, and even burnout.

I speak about how Rest days help to balance the production of cortisol, Intense training can spike cortisol levels, leading to muscle breakdown and a weakened immune system. Rest is important for regulating cortisol

So, how do you know when to take a rest day? It's all about listening to your body. I speak about common signs that you might need a rest day

It's important to remember that rest doesn't mean you have to be completely inactive. You can get out about moving just make sure it's gentle

Rest isn't just physical. It's a time to recharge mentally as well.

Taking a step back can often lead to greater motivation and focus when you return to your workouts.

I really wanted to highlight that rest days are not a sign of weakness or lack of commitment.

They are a crucial component of any effective training program. By incorporating regular rest days, you’ll enhance your performance, prevent injuries, and stay motivated on your fitness journey.




If you are interested in working with me you can find me :
Equestrian Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_
Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle
Happy Hips for horseriding PDF: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4y0n6

Website: www.chrissyhawkins.com
Instagram: @chrissyhfitness
Want my FREE Kickstarter workout guide? Follow this link! 3 workouts for home or gym:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v7m8t6

It's easy to think that you can just do everything solo but the truth is.. We all need some help sometimes!

Today I talk about the importance of having a support system not just for the bad times but for the good times too

I first talk about reasons that you need to have a support system

These include emotional well-being... no matter how introverted you are humans are social creatures and need to connection

Accountability and motivation to stick to your goals when times get tough

Getting different perspectives on problems and being able to work on them together

And possibly the most important... Sharing the load of life's stresses

I then go on to explain how we can cultivate and grow our support systems but also highlight that it is a two-way street and you need to be there for each other and work on these relationships

I did want to end on a bit of a serious note and encourage anybody out there who may be in need of help to reach out to people

Do not worry if you have been distancing yourself from them and don't feel embarrassed about looking for help

It could make all the difference




If you are interested in working with me you can find me :
Equestrian Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_
Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle
Happy Hips for horseriding PDF: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4y0n6

Website: www.chrissyhawkins.com
Instagram: @chrissyhfitness
Want my FREE Kickstarter workout guide? Follow this link! 3 workouts for home or gym:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v7m8t6

Is there something that you just can't get right with your horse?

Today I speak to Emma McCauley owner of Sparrow Equestrian also a bit of an equine encyclopedia

We speak about how she was always involved with horses despite not being from a horsey background

Deciding to make the jump from a corporate "safe" job to follow her dream of working with horses full-time

The importance of people around you giving you unwavering support during the tough times

We discuss how she works with clients from assessing all areas from rider to horse

The training scale and how each part of it can affect the horse's movement

That horses do not plot against us and they aren't out to get you, if something is wrong it's not because they are being deliberately bold

The importance of taking videos to be able to see the progress that you've made

That most horses don't need high-percentage feeds and this can cause more issues than good

The prevalence of quick fixes and that equestrians need to be patient and go back to basics before just buying training aids as they are often misused

Flatwork is the foundation and more emphasis needs to be put on that over jumping

That we need to accept that perfection is not possible with horses and we need to stop putting so much pressure on ourselves and the horses and enjoy our time with them

Emma also lets us know what she has coming up this year including some riding club clinics in Emerald Equestrian and lots more exciting things so keep an eye on her page

Emma has some great advice at the end of the podcast including not being afraid to ask for help

If you'd like to find out more about working with Emma you'll get her:

Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok: @sparrowequestrian


If you are interested in working with me you can find me :
Equestrian Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_
Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle
Happy Hips for horseriding PDF: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4y0n6

Website: www.chrissyhawkins.com
Instagram: @chrissyhfitness
Want my FREE Kickstarter workout guide? Follow this link! 3 workouts for home or gym:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v7m8t6

Do you feel like your mind is always going? Maybe you feel like you never have a quiet moment, but you don't feel that you have time to slow down.

Today I speak with Kendall Platt, the Mindful Gardening Coach.  She helps women take time out of their busy lives to quieten their minds whilst creating a garden that sets their heart on fire and creating with the flowers that they grow.

Coming from a background in forensics Kendall found herself constantly working and pushing herself until she ended up in burnout one thing that helped her come back to herself and quiet her mind was her garden and she wanted to bring this to other women

We speak about the constant need people feel to keep producing and never focus on giving time to themselves

That the transactional nature of life makes us feel like we don't deserve to take time for ourselves unless we have "earned" it but we shouldn't have to delay our happiness

We also speak about being ADHD and being diagnosed at 36 and how it explained so much for her but also brought a lot of sadness for her

The challenges she has faced when it comes to family members really understanding the condition and not only family but wider society as well

We discuss common misconceptions about ADHD and how you can be incredibly successful when you know how to work with your brain instead of trying to force yourself to do things the neurotypical way

She then speaks about the education system and how it leaves no room for creativity and how it's important to allow yourself to follow your intuition and create spaces that make you happy

How she describes her mindful garden revolution as a way for women to take some power back for themselves and embrace their quirks instead of sitting down, staying quiet and behaving

We also talk about how important it is to schedule time for yourself even if it's just 5-10 minutes

Getting a friend involved can make doing your garden a social experience too as well as provide you with some accountability

The fear people have of trying something new as making mistakes are vilified but making mistakes is human

You need to be able to express yourself and how businesses and governments do not like this

The importance of using your voice if you want to see change

The toxic mentality of "well if I had to you should" and how no change can really be made if you with this line of thought

Kendall has a great piece of advice at the end of the podcast for those who don't see their own power

If you want to follow Kendall or find out more about working with her:

Socials:



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallmarieplatt/ 



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventureswithflowers



Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-marie-platt/



Website: 

https://www.adventureswithflowers.com/



Key products/services

Create your dream garden

Garden Inspiration session



Free and paid-for resources

Come and read the Seed my publication on Substack.




If you are interested in working with me you can find me :
Equestrian Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_
Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle
Happy Hips for horseriding PDF: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4y0n6

Website: www.chrissyhawkins.com
Instagram: @chrissyhfitness
Want my FREE Kickstarter workout guide? Follow this link! 3 workouts for home or gym:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v7m8t6

Something that I often hear from people that I meet when I say that I am a personal training is "oh I'm not fit"

But fitness takes very many forms

Today I wanted to talk about misconceptions I regularly come across when it comes to "fitness" or "gym work"

I talk about how the extreme is what sells on the internet but often it puts off normal people as they think that they need to do this to make any progress

I speak about running is not necessary if it is not conducive to your goal

Pilates is not the holy grail for equestrian fitness

The numerous daily benefits that come from becoming stronger and fitter that people forget

The importance of keeping active as you age and how it will affect your quality of life if you don't

And most importantly:

It's normal to be bad at something when you start and find it difficult so don't be so hard on yourself if you do find it tough!


If you are interested in working with me you can find me :
Equestrian Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_
Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle
Happy Hips for horseriding PDF: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4y0n6

Website: www.chrissyhawkins.com
Instagram: @chrissyhfitness
Want my FREE Kickstarter workout guide? Follow this link! 3 workouts for home or gym:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v7m8t6

What does it take to not only compete in but win the public vote in the Grassroots Rider Academy?

Well, today I speak to Megan Norton who did just that.

We start by talking about how she got into horses and despite her mother's protests once she got a taste for Equestrianism she was hooked

How the "get back up the horse mentality" has helped her in every area of her life

That even though she only had Timmy a short amount of time she decided to give applying for The Grassroots Rider Academy a go

The difference she noticed while competing in the academy to competing at shows and how supportive everyone was

The importance of having a support system around you who can help you when you need it, even if you don't want to admit it

We then talk about the heartbreak of not being able to breed from her first Horse Hattie and how it was like a loss of her own when she couldn't get in foal

How Megan really fell out of love with riding but getting Timmy changed it all

We come back to the Rider Academy and what it was like being interviewed and the difference she found from the start of the journey to where she is now

How life has changed for her since the Rider Academy and the drive she gets now people are acknowledging all the work she puts in

That she still gets negative comments here and there but if they aren't doing better than her she ignores them

We finish by speaking about what Megan plans for the future and even though she had had some setbacks shes making the most of all the time she has

If you want to keep up with Megan you can find her:

Instagram: @lifeonmegsrein

Facebook: Megan Norton


If you are interested in working with me you can find me :
Equestrian Instagram: @stronginthesaddle_
Equestrian Tiktok: @ stronginthesaddle
Happy Hips for horseriding PDF: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4y0n6

Website: www.chrissyhawkins.com
Instagram: @chrissyhfitness
Want my FREE Kickstarter workout guide? Follow this link! 3 workouts for home or gym:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v7m8t6