KAYLA ITSINES ON STRENGTH

She’s one of the world’s most influential trainers, who educates and supports millions of women to improve their health and get fitter, faster, stronger. But Kayla Itsines says physical fitness is nothing without the mindset to match.

I’m often asked why women should try strength training. Why should we pick up weights, do pushups or add plyometrics to our routines? In response, I like to ask people why they wouldn’t want to run faster or jump higher, to feel better inside and out. That’s something most of us can identify with.

Physical strength is a large part of my daily life when I’m training women, however strength to me is about more than just the physical. I also want to encourage women to recognise the value of their individual strengths on the inside, as well as our strength as a collective community.

Strength is not measured by lifting more than someone else. It’s not measured by having noticeable abs, by how high you can jump, how fast you can run or how hard you can punch. Strength isn’t defined by the sport you choose to play or do, the method of training you like or even how much training it took you to get there. Strength is getting out of bed every day, even when you don’t want to. It’s getting up when it’s cold, dark and raining outside so you can hit the gym and squeeze in a workout before work. Strength is forgiveness. Strength is helping other people who may be less fortunate than you. Strength is showing compassion, occasionally making yourself vulnerable, striving for success and being humble, all at the same time.

The term strength isn’t solely tied to fitness and physicality. It’s about mindset – because strength comes from within. I’m a strong person. I have strong morals that I’ve stuck to throughout my whole life. I’m a teacher. My inner strength lies in being naturally nurturing and in educating others. I see myself helping to give strength to others, teaching them not to question themselves and to believe in their ability.

The support women give each other is something I can’t praise enough. We can lift each other up, we can encourage each other or we can simply be there to listen. Collectively, we can inspire confidence and emotional strength – something I believe is learned through experiences, through watching strong women deal with emotional moments, hardships and setbacks, through watching women achieving their goals and working to help each other.

We place so much pressure on ourselves to perform in everything we do. I want women to stop underestimating their abilities, their value in life and their drive. We are so strong, inside and out. We can overcome obstacles by confronting our fears, pushing through insecurities and trusting our instincts. Our power truly comes from within. We need to celebrate ourselves more, in all that we do. We literally make humans! There should be nothing that stands in our way when we’re determined. We’re amazing and strong beings. We are women.