How would you sum up the time you’ve spent at Cvičisko?
Cvičisko had been “hovering around” my virtual world for a long time. However, as a working mum with the fixed idea that first of all everyone around me has to be happy and then I’ll surely be happy too, I always had a pile of reasons not to start exercising. But at a certain moment, paradoxically on my last birthday beginning with the number 3, I realised that something in my life wasn’t right. And it wasn’t just a sore back that had got to the point where I couldn’t get up in the morning. It was a gradually growing frustration that I wasn’t living my own life, that I couldn’t organise my time so that I’d do something for myself, something to make my dreams come true. I realised that if I didn’t change something immediately, there would come one rash, uncontrolled reaction that would set off a domino effect and could cause damage where I least wanted it.
For many years I’d been fascinated by surfing, surfers, their lifestyle, their connection with the ocean they love. I’d always wanted to try it, but either there wasn’t the money for it (we landlocked folk have bigger costs just to get across to the ocean 🙂 ), or the circumstances weren’t “on my side” (pregnancy). But at the moment I mentioned above, I realised there was nothing left stopping me from trying it. People around me shook their heads in horror, saying I was too old for such silly ideas, but by then I was in “pit bull” mode = I had the bone in my teeth and wasn’t willing to let it go :).
The only thing stopping me from heading off to the ocean straight away was my physical condition. Overweight, weak back muscles, weak legs and arms, zero balance. Health-wise I was fine; my condition was the result of long years of sitting at a computer and minimal movement.
I knew I needed a good physiotherapist, and I started going to power yoga classes. But it needed even more… and that’s when I remembered Cvičisko. I called them and within a few days I’d done my introductory session.
I was assigned to trainer Marek. When he asked what my goal was, I answered: within a year I want to learn to surf. Not windsurfing, not kitesurfing… just me and a board on a wave. We chose that as the only goal. I remembered from the past that strict diets and watching my weight only demotivated me more, so we left that out of our plan. It was a period when I had surplus energy, probably from the excitement that I’d finally plucked up the courage to set out on this journey :). And this energy helped me get through the first weeks of exercise, and once they’d passed, regular training sessions were suddenly an absolute matter of course in my week and gradually became a bit of an addiction too.
Yes, there was my firm willpower, a goal and determination. There were the first results, whether it was weight loss or being able to get up in the morning without lower back pain. But above all there was Marek, my trainer. From the start, Marek understood how we should begin, what to focus on, what the priorities were. He knew how to motivate me, both within a session so that I’d actually finish a set, and in the long term through the way he structured the sessions over the week. The muscle soreness was horrendous!!! But even so, I looked forward to those killer workouts :). Marek’s insistent but very calm style suits me to this day. I keep telling him he’s probably the only man I don’t talk back to :).
Of course, a place where you start spending so much time has to have a “spirit”. And for me, Cvičisko has one. If only because the first thing I always get is a coffee 🙂 which I’m also slightly addicted to 🙂 But seriously… I never felt comfortable in big fitness centres with dozens of people, loads of machines, impersonality and often the feeling that it’s more about a fashion show of the latest fitness accessory collections than about sport 🙂 For me, Cvičisko’s charm lies in that small space, in the community that meets there regularly, in not judging (especially) newcomers by their looks. The whole time it was a place where I felt encouragement, but not the insincere pat-on-the-shoulder kind, and a genuine interest in helping me move forward.
I don’t regret a single minute spent at Cvičisko. Today, after 13 intense months, two surf trips to Portugal (with at least three more planned for 2020) and 12kg lighter, I know that the time invested in myself, in my health and fitness, is the best-spent time. It’s as if physical strength gave me mental strength, as if at least 70% of the problems I used to deal with in the past had disappeared. Now I realise that it’s also about a change in my attitude, about higher self-confidence, about a better ability to look at different situations, filter them and deal with them. Paradoxically, I also have more time for my son, I’m less tired and I plan family activities much more precisely. I live more actively, and my friends call me Quicksilver after that Avenger who’s always on the run, but I can’t remember when I was ever more content and balanced.
What other sport / exercise goal would you like to achieve?
Well… surfing is a sport that, once you’ve tried it, usually becomes a passion. It’s a very demanding sport, especially when you start, let’s say, after 35 🙂 And also, because of where we live, you can’t just head off to the ocean every weekend. So the main goal remains surfing 🙂 I want to keep improving, catch better, stronger waves and above all really enjoy it. Well, and that won’t happen without proper, regular “dry-land” preparation. So Cvičisko will continue to be my second home 🙂
In the summer I definitely want to do more river surfing on the artificial wave in Čunovo. And alongside that, I like to come up with so-called interim goals, such as doing proper push-ups and pull-ups, holding a plank for several minutes or being able to do a freestanding handstand. Kind of outdoing myself a little 🙂
Another goal is to stay in good shape for as long as possible. I have a five-year-old son who is leaning more towards the arts than towards sport, and that’s exactly why I want to motivate him towards movement habits, towards a natural need to move. He’s a water baby, just like me, so I’m slowly raising him to be my surfing buddy 🙂 And if he decides to snowboard, I want to get on that snowboard with him. And I won’t mind at all if we spend our surf preparation together on skateboards 🙂 Children often imitate their parents, so if I want Michal to work on himself with joy, I have to do it too. And I’ll be glad to 🙂
Zuzka, 40 years old.
