Yannick Reid escapes sedentary lifestyle with wellness journey
THEY SAY the human body is designed for movement. But that struggle becomes all too real when facing the dark side of a nine to five. For a creative like Yannick Reid, whose hours go even longer, he found that life growing too sedentary for comfort. So, he decided it was time to make a change. Since then, he has been working on fitness and reaping the natural fruits of his labour.
Reid tells Lifestyle, “The nature of my work had me spending hours sitting in front of my computer. I felt extremely lazy and lethargic, and I really hated it.”
After years of suffering from extreme lower back pain, he explained that since embarking on this life-changing journey six months ago, the issue has completely disappeared. “That’s a really surprising change I didn’t expect, but really enjoyed. I feel more joint mobility, which is apparent on long days shooting film for work and having to stay steady,” the director, photographer and cinematographer shared.
On a mental note, his health has improved in that capacity, as he no longer feels stressed. “Surprisingly, I’m more disciplined and motivated. Breathing feels easier, and I feel healthier and stronger overall and not as plagued by lethargy and laziness like before,” he revealed. Even his sleep patterns have changed for the better.
So, how did he get to this groundbreaking point of transformation? By enrolling in the gym. Despite being the one to avoid the fitness centre, Reid was desperate to change his lifestyle and have more energy, so that he could feel more alert.
“At first, it was very intimidating, but it was self-imposed. I am, and still consider myself, a beginner, going into a space where you feel like everyone knows what they are doing, and you don’t know anything, can make you feel really self-conscious. But I started the gym journey with my good friend, so the company of being beginners together made it easier to overcome. After a while, you realise no one is really paying that much attention to you and what you’re doing. And since then, I’ve gained more confidence to show up and workout,” he said.
Although he wasn’t as strict in the nutrition department, he did admit that going to gym influenced him to make more mindful decisions when it came to his eating habits. “I just try to cut down on sweets where I can, like desserts and cake, and increase my water intake as much as I can,” he added.
Because he sees himself as a beginner, he never made much mention about his fitness mission to anyone. That, however, didn’t stop other people from noticing and commenting on the difference in his stature. “Since December, I have been getting some comments that I ‘look good’ or ‘that I look different’. That became my little organic cue to say, ‘Aha, something is working’ and keep at it,” he revealed.
With plans already in place to become stronger and take greater care of his body, he aspires to focus on consistency and keep the physical aesthetic at a minimum, making his overall health the main motivation.
“Visual i mprovements are subjective and not always linear. So it can be easy to feel demotivated when one doesn’t see progress or think they should be seeing progress. I use my body for my work, so I hope I can use my body for as long as I am alive. I want to take good care of it, and improve my discipline. As long as I keep showing up, I will be doing something better for my overall health; everything else is a bonus. I’ve found the most reward in having this attitude. My fun goal, though, is to be able to be shirtless this year at carnival,” he said with a laugh.
For those looking to start their own wellness journey, Reid recommends that you just start. “Start simple, with easy workouts. Pick a gym or a workout area that’s convenient, do it with a friend, and don’t take it nor yourself too seriously. I tried to make it as easy as possible to show up at the gym by picking somewhere close. And going with a friend made it something fun to look forward to. Not taking it too seriously has allowed me to take a light-hearted approach to the journey, and remove the pressure of losing a certain amount of pounds or seeing a specific amount of results by this time.”