Kyah Simon played in her inaugural first-grade game at just 15, but it wasn’t exactly a success. She’d only been on the field for 10 minutes when she broke her leg. A lot of people said she’d never come back, never represent Australia – though that only drove her to prove them wrong.
That was Simon’s ‘no turning back’ moment, which she spoke about at the launch of Nike’s new #NoTurningBack campaign, which is all about encouraging Aussies to re-embrace the competitive spirit and the fun that comes with sport, rather than being put off taking part by the pressure to win. You know, #justdoit
“It doesn’t even have to be sport,” says Simons. “It can be a hobby that involves some sort of physical activity – just finding some way to be active that you can find enjoyment in so you’ll do it regularly.” Bushwalking? Swimming in the surf? Playing Frisbee with a mate? Or just with your dog. Plenty of options.
“I think once you find something you enjoy, it’s so much easier to wake up in the morning and go do it. It might be a boxing class, it might be kicking a ball around a park, you never know what it is until you try it,” says Simon.
No time for getting active? Make time and it’ll make you more productive in all the other busy areas of your life. “When you’re active, running around, burning energy, sweating, your endorphins are at their peak,” says Simon. “Any time I need to clear my head, I go for a run or go to the gym, I leave and feel great. The mental aspect is just as important as the physical.”
Simon’s tip for making the time: “It doesn’t matter if you’re an elite sportsperson or not, routine is a big thing. Without it, my schedule goes out the window. I write a weekly plan and put it in my calendar: waking up at 6:30, going to the gym at 7:30, then starting my day.”
And exercise in the morning. “If you’re doing it in the morning, it’s so much easier to get through your day, rather than doing your nine-to-five job, then then at the end of your working day you’re thinking, oh, I have to do a workout now. There’s nothing worse than it being a drag to be active. So I think routine is a massive thing.”
See The Matildas play in Oz! Tickets are on-sale now for Australia vs Brazil – on Sat 16th Sept in Penrith, and Tues 19th Sept in Newcastle, both in NSW.
Discover what the Women’s Health initiative WinS is and how you can get involved here.
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