10 ways to get active with your ‘tribe’

Posted on 23 September, 2015

“No matter how driven and determined you are and no matter how much you believe in yourself, it’s impossible to reach your goals if you mingle with miserable, negative people who drag you down.”

Last Sunday, I ran a marathon. 42.2 kilometres through the stunning streets of Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge, through the botanic gardens, Centennial Park and finished at the Opera House. It was magic, and the feeling at the finish line was nothing short of pure joy.

However, there was a while there where I didn’t think that moment would be possible. Life threw some challenges in my way and to say it was an emotionally draining few months leading up to the event would be a huge understatement. There at the finish line, with my mum proudly watching and waiting with open arms and my phone blowing up with messages of love, I was once again reminded about the importance of having a supportive tribe, particularly when it comes to living an active and healthy life. I might have done the training, but it was the love and support of those who backed me the whole way that got me over the line.

There is so much value in having a group of people around you who understand you and where you want to be.

We’ve all come across people in our lives who undermine, sabotage or mock our goals. It could be that person who’s all too eager to put you down under the guise of “constructive criticism”, the friend who encourages you to stray from your diet so that they feel better about their own, or even just those who don’t take your seriously or question your ability. Sometimes these people know exactly what it is they’re doing, sometimes they don’t. Either way, these kinds of relationships don’t serve you.

Lorna Jane Clarkson says, “no matter how driven and determined you are and no matter how much you believe in yourself, it’s impossible to reach your goals if you mingle with miserable, negative people who drag you down.”

So, what kind of relationships should we be seeking out? People who ‘get’ you and understand what you’re trying to achieve, who support your choices and don’t throw obstacles or temptation in your path, who believe in you and aren’t afraid to remind you of your strength when you have moments of weakness.

Maybe you are lucky enough to have a group of like-minded and supportive friends. If you don’t, there are many places you can go to meet people. We’re lucky to live in an active community, which means there’s a smorgasbord of gyms, boot camps, classes, walking or running groups, yoga studios and more at your disposal to go out and make friends.

Keep an eye out for events like those hosted by Lululemon Athletica Canberra to mix and mingle with healthy, active and determined people. These kind of events are such a great place to meet people because everyone is there to grow their network too. Put the vibes out, smile, strike up conversations and reach out through your channels – including social media!

Of course, you don’t need to abandon your friends if they don’t tick every box. It’s important to communicate your priorities and goals with them so you can be on the same page. This is particularly important if you’ve recently changed your lifestyle and are trying to become more healthy or fit. They might not share all of your interests, but that’s ok – sometimes it’s the small changes that make all the difference. For example, changing to a healthier venue for your dinner catch up or heading out for a walk together instead of just grabbing brunch on the weekend. You never know, you might inspire them to change some of their own habits and start working on improving their own health and fitness!

We all know how much fun it can be to catch up over cocktails and canapés or spend a night chatting over pizza and DVDs. However, some of the best memories I have with my loved ones (past and present) are where we were getting active – kayaking with my dad, running a half marathon with an old boyfriend, sweating it out with my bestie in a spin class or walks with my mum and my friends. Your social life and your ‘active life’ don’t need to be exclusive of one another.

10 ways to get active with your tribe

1. Go for a big walk and then head to a healthy café like Eighty/Twenty, Maple & Clove or Local Press to chat over a fresh juice or smoothie bowl.
2. Go to Flip Out and spend the afternoon jumping on the trampolines and laughing until you’re breathless
3. Hire a canoe, kayak or SUP and explore the waters of Lake Burley Griffin
4. Walk around the Jerrabomberra wetlands and keep an eye out for Canberra’s beautiful bird species
5. Grab the girls and try out a new boot camp or fitness class at the gym together
6. Make the most of the warmer weather – grab some friends and kick a footy around the local park
7. Sweat it out at a hot yoga class, or stretch it out at Lululemon Athletica Canberra’s weekly complimentary yoga classes
8. Ride your bikes around the closest lake or head to Stromlo Forest Park for some mountain biking
9. Drive to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and go bushwalking together
10. Head to one of Canberra’s many pools to cool off