I know, it's not Monday, but I'll not be sending out a newsletter until the new year.
Taking time off is important.
This is one of the things that has become more apparent to me of late.
So in this newsletter edition, I want to catch you up and give you an overview of what has been going on in my world over the last couple of years.
Moved out of Dublin
At the end of 2019 my wife and I left Dublin and moved north to Tyrone.
This meant leaving WG-FIT. For several months I did a daily commute to and from Dublin. This wasn't sustainable so I spoke with Seba, who'd been a fixture at my side for several years at this point, watching everything I do, and asked him if he would take over.
Thankfully he agreed.
Unfortunately, the country was forced into Lockdown very soon after.
Covid enforced Sabbatical
While this Lockdown near proved disastrous for WG-FIT, it was a blessing in disguise for me.
WG-FIT survived thanks to you lot, our dedicated members.
Many kept their membership live, taking advantage of our online services, and without you the place would surely have closed down. So thank you, without you there is no Wild Geese.
As for me, I took a job and went on sabbatical.
Over the last 15 years I've spent more time in WG-FIT than almost any other single location ever in my life.
Stepping away, as difficult as it was, was also a relief.
It took until mid 2022 for me to actually relax and remember who I am without WG-FIT.
Launched Force of Nature, why and how
I took a few courses, one of which was with a business coach with the intention of figuring out my next path.
We all need coaches, a voice that challenges your thoughts and opinions.
And what I learned, or rather what he helped me realise that what I do in WG-FIT really has very little to do with all the Swings and Push Ups I make people do.
It has very little to do with shoulder and foot mechanics or the breathing lectures…
It's about getting in people's heads and helping them believe how awesome they are, to see the awesomeness that I see in them. And to to realise that awesomeness.
So that is what the Force of Nature program is about.
In 12 weeks I take you deep into your head, more directly than I ever did on the training floor, but on the course I have 24 hours over 12 weeks with you.
On the training floor, I have 2-4 hours a week for as long as you train there, and for most that's a number of years, not weeks.
Of course I still build you a training plan, based on your wants, needs and movement assessments, you don't get away without doing a few Swings and Push Ups, and listening to me harp on about foot mechanics and breathing….
Online Training
The training program is delivered, as is all my online training, through the TrainHeroic App. But in the Force of Nature program we meet over Zoom with a session dedicated to giving the guys opportunity to ask questions, workshop problems and even get live demonstrations.
And this is something I'd like to roll out as part of the regular online training service.
How this will work is as follows.
Online training clients will have the option to join a weekly Zoom call. As there are many of you and you don't all have questions every week, there's no need to be on every call, but maybe 1 or two per month.
The plan here is schedule these a few weeks ahead, maybe cap the number of participants allowed to ensure some level of value.
If you're doing online training with me, I'll reach out to you individually in January.
The future of Wild Geese Fitness Training
WG-FIT is still going, albeit a little on the quiet side.
Since the end of the lockdowns it's never got back to full strength.
But it is going nowhere, at least not anytime soon.
Seb is doing a great job, I've seen him in action.
And I've seen the results he's getting with his clients.
They are flying.
I can't tell you how proud I am of him and thankful to have him step up like he has.
Kettlebell Sport
Also it's been great to see the kettlebell sport crew come back.
Wild Geese was there right at the very beginning of kettlebell sport in Ireland, forming our own small but very competitive team, the Kettleheads.
Having them back in WG-FIT is great to see.
And seeing them take part in competition and challenges still fills me with pride.
I did promise a while ago to run an Introduction to Kettlebell Sport workshop, and I've simply not had (or made) the time.
Drop me a line if you're interested, I'm thinking of setting it up for early next year.
It's been a strange few years, but it looks like we are back stable.
So let's take a bit of a breather over Christmas and then get back kicking arse and taking names in the new year.
None of this “new year new you” nonsense
Rather, new year, same me, pushing my boundaries ever more.
Hope to see you in the new year, either online, during one of my visits to Dublin or at a workshop .
Chat soon
Regards
Dave Hedges
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