Pilates Soulful Sunday: Embracing the Body’s Journey

A syringe and capsules rest calmly against a teal medical curtain, symbolising health and prevention.

Last Thursday I had the shingles vaccination. I’ll be honest, I was a bit nervous. It’s something I hadn’t had before and after speaking with friends, some who said they wouldn’t have it, I hesitated. But at my age I was considered high risk. And honestly, after what I’ve gone through with stage 3 cancer and a few other health hurdles, I decided to go ahead.

I’ve learned to ask questions. I asked the nurse, I asked my GP, I asked friends. But in the end what really tipped it for me was the trust I have in the NHS. The same system that helped save my life, the same people who supported me through some of the darkest days of my health journey, I owed it to them and to myself to trust again.

The jab itself was easy, just a sore arm on Thursday evening. But Friday? Friday knocked me flat. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. Aches in every joint, that heavy tiredness that you can’t quite shake. It felt like flu but not a cold or fever, just bone deep fatigue. I later found out that this is quite a common reaction. It’s a sign your immune system is responding and it’s actually a good thing. Still, it was a rough day.

I spoke with the doctor the next morning and they reassured me, drink lots of fluids, rest and give your body space to recover. And I did. I took a proper self care day. That’s the heart of today’s message.

Is it better than getting shingles? I believe so. Shingles can be truly awful. So if losing a day to fatigue means avoiding that, I’ll take it.

But what this really brought up for me is how hard ageing can be. Not in a dramatic or fearful way but in a very real, very humbling way. The body doesn’t always bounce back the way it once did. And sometimes, when a doctor asks how you are, it’s hard to answer. I always say, “I don’t know what’s normal anymore.” What is ageing? What’s just life? And what needs a second look?

There’s no doubt in my mind, health is everything. You can have all the success in the world but when your health is compromised, everything else fades into the background. I've lost dear friends and colleagues over the years, some far too young. And while I sometimes feel the weight of ageing, I also feel the privilege of it. We are still here.

So today on Pilates Soulful Sunday I invite you to take a quiet moment. Reflect on where you are, how your body feels, and what your health means to you. We don’t always have the answers. But we do have today. We do have the choice to care, to trust, and to be grateful for what our bodies have carried us through and what lies ahead.

And yes, sometimes that means enduring a rough day from a vaccine. I’ll take that over illness. And no, I don’t buy into conspiracy theories or fear mongering. I still believe in science. I still believe in healing. And I still believe we’re here to do the best we can with care, with trust, and with a bit of Pilates breath along the way.