MY STORY
How exercise made my life great
Hello! I'm Karen. I'm a friend, a daughter, sister and a woman in her 40’s making the best of her life despite its challenges.
After suddenly becoming ill and falling down, I was diagnosed in Spring 1993 with Multiple Sclerosis. This happened just as I was starting my medical career, but then everything changed. It was devastating.
Recuperating after finishing my treatment, I started the slow process of convalescence. I needed to regain my nutritional, physical and mental health. I started to build my new life. Starting with short daily walks , reading a page, gentle yoga, making mindfulness moments and most importantly resting. It took persistence as I was very weak. Everything was slow and frustrating. Each day was a new page which I filled with small achievements. After 18 months I was able to live independently again.
I found restarting fitness activities quite scary. Not knowing where to start or what exercises I should be doing. I started with a physiotherapist and later I joined exercise classes, which were quite daunting as others had no idea what I'd been through.
I rebuilt my life, becoming qualified to gain a PhD and working in the Pharmaceutical industry and government offices. However, when it all became too much: the commute, the work, the lifestyle, I started again. Retraining and working in the fitness industry, I made my life’s passion to improve my health into a career where I help others.
I worked in my local leisure centre where I honed my skills in communicating, instructing and caring for people within this community. In 2017, I established Epsom Strength and Balance, the company, to help seniors and people with disabilities within the local community and beyond improve their health through being active. There is no time like now to start.
I will never regain the full strength of my youth but every day I work on maintaining and improving what I have. This is especially important as my bones are getting weaker and regular activity helps me stay independent for as long as I can. I want to help others regain their independence by keeping active, wherever they can.
My life experience helps me relate to other people as they cope with their changes in life. This gives me understanding and helps inspire them to do more to help themselves.
Come and talk to me to find out more about how you can get started. I can help you now.
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