The Truth About Your Future Self

“Help! I’ve slipped off the bed and I’m on the floor and I can’t get up!”

That was the Sunday night distress call my husband and I received from an elderly relative last weekend.

Picture it: trousers tangled around ankles, pride dented, waiting for a two-person lift just to stand again. At 83, this is a very real story and not exactly the glamorous vision of aging any of us aspire to.

Now, contrast that with another: my friend’s dad, upside down at his recent 90th birthday celebration, grinning from ear to ear while holding a headstand. Yes, a headstand at ninety.

So here’s the question: who do you want to be?

Proof that headstands at 90 are possible!

The Power of Small Investments

Movement is like a savings account, except instead of money, you’re investing in your future freedom. Every small, targeted effort compounds over time. A few minutes spent working on balance today might be the difference between confidently hopping onto a boat (or over a fence!) at 75 or needing three people to steady you.

Think of it as a compound interest plan for your body. Tiny deposits like rolling on the floor, practicing getting up from the floor (bonus if you do it without using your hands!) and playing add up to decades of extra independence, confidence and fun.

More Than Prevention—It’s Expansion

It’s easy to frame movement work as “fall prevention” or “avoiding problems.” But here’s the real secret: it’s not just about preventing breakdowns or falls, it’s about opening possibilities.

When you keep your body curious, movable and capable, you extend your timeline for saying yes: ✅ Yes to a long walk on holiday

✅ Yes to chasing the grandkids

✅ Yes to dancing in the kitchen ✅ Yes to hopping on your bike ✅ Yes to getting up off the floor ✅ Yes to spontaneous adventures that require climbing stairs ✅ Yes to standing on your head (if you’re so inclined!).

How Movement Should Feel

This isn’t about gritting your teeth and “pushing through”. It’s about rediscovering how your body is meant to move, fluidly, efficiently and comfortably. Everyday movement should feel:

✅ Enjoyable (definitely not like a feet-dragging chore)

✅ Curious (not effortful or rigid).

✅ Empowering (not punishing or rule following).

When you train not just the muscles but the how of moving - coordination, balance, transitions - you’re building a foundation that serves you in every corner of life. Your joints function like they're supposed to and everyday tasks like tying your shoelaces and lifting the groceries become smoother, safer and more fun. And this is exactly why I teach what I do with Feldenkrais. My goal is to help my clients become the best version of their future selves. Not just more flexible or stronger, but more confident, capable and free. It’s not about grinding through mindless workouts and doing the things you “should” do. It's about learning how to move with ease, balance and awareness so you can trust your body to say “yes” when life calls (and enjoy the process!).

Your Future Self Will Thank You

Here’s the truth: aging gracefully isn’t just luck or good genetics. It’s strategy. Every time you choose to invest in your ability to move more easily, get down to the floor (and back up again), you’re casting a vote for your future self who’s still saying “yes.”

So, what’s it going to be? The undignified floor rescue… or the birthday headstand?

Try This at Home: A mini-Balance Reset

You don’t need fancy equipment to start building balance and body awareness. Try this easy experiment:

1. Stand barefoot on the floor. Notice how your weight is spread—more on your heels, toes, left, or right?

2. Slowly shift your weight toward one foot, then the other. Go just far enough that you feel the difference, not so far that you strain or too much wobble.

3. Play with directions—forward/back, side-to-side, even little circles. Let it feel easy, like you’re a tree swaying about in a gentle wind.

4. Close your eyes for a moment (only if safe). Notice how your body quietly makes micro-adjustments to keep you upright.

5. Pause and sense: Do you feel more grounded? More aware of your feet under you?
   

👉 The secret is in the how. Moving slowly and paying attention is what tunes your nervous system and improves your ability to recover balance when life throws you a wobble.

Want to move even better?

Come wriggle, roll, and rediscover your inner awesome in my regular Not Yoga classes in-person or online (where “serious exercise face” is strictly optional!). Or, if you’d like some dedicated attention, book a 1:1 session and we’ll fine-tune your moves so you’re ready for adventures (and less likely to star in a trousers-around-the-ankles story).