The year of the fire horse- setting new goals

In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. As I sit with that image, this majestic, powerful animal, I find it aligns beautifully with what I want for myself this year. The horse carries movement, strength, vitality, and momentum, it doesn't stand still for long.

The Chinese New Year began on 17th February, and I find myself drawn to it as a threshold, a natural pause to reflect on what I want to bring more of into my life. Meteorological Spring is 1st March and setting intentions now feels more alive to me than doing it in the middle of winter, as the Gregorian calendar asks us to. Nature comes back to life in Spring, and perhaps our bodies can follow her lead.

So here is my intention for this year: I want to return to exercise, and to do it in a way that is consistent, more effective and genuinely nourishing.

Staying consistent isn't easy. Life pulls our attention in so many directions, and other priorities naturally take over. I don't believe in dramatic resolutions that are forgotten within a week. But I do believe that the beginning of a new year, in this case the Chinese year, can be a real turning point. A moment to stop, look honestly at where we are, and notice what small shifts might genuinely make life better.

Sometimes that means letting go of a habit that no longer serves us. Sometimes it means introducing something new that supports us. We don't have to change everything at once, we can choose just one thing. Last year, I changed the way I eat, and it has been deeply beneficial for my health. This year, I want to build on that and give real attention to movement and exercise.

For others, that one thing might look completely different: reducing or quitting alcohol, stopping smoking, letting go of porn, starting a new hobby, reading more and scrolling less, giving up sugar, or developing a mindful self-pleasure practice. What matters isn't what we choose, it's that the choice feels genuinely meaningful and supportive.

I often wonder why we don't naturally fill our days with things that are good for us. Why self-destructive habits can feel so much easier than caring ones. When I look a little deeper, it seems that the first step is often finding the place inside ourselves that feels worthy of care. Maybe that is self-love. Or, if that feels too far away right now, just self-care. Even a small amount is enough to begin.

For me, I need to understand why I'm doing something and how it truly benefits me before I can commit to it.

We all know that movement matters, for physical health, mental clarity, strength, and resilience, but knowing something and actually living it are not the same thing. What often helps me and motivates me is seeing someone who has already done it.

Recently, I watched a video about a couple in their eighties who committed to one year of strength training and significantly improved their quality of life. What stayed with me wasn't just the physical change, but the vitality, the confidence, the independence they had reclaimed, how differently they moved, how they stood, how they inhabited their bodies.

This is the video: My Parents' Astounding Results from 1 Year of Strength Training in Their 80s

Watching them made something very simple land in me: if they could do it, starting in their eighties, then almost anyone can. This beautiful couple reminded me that movement isn't about youth or aesthetics. It's about staying in relationship with life, at every stage we find ourselves in.

Strength training supports muscle mass, bone density, balance, and overall resilience. It helps regulate mood, supports metabolism, and plays an important role in hormonal health, including testosterone in men and overall hormonal balance in women. But beyond the physical benefits, it changes how we inhabit our bodies.

I notice that exercise is affecting my emotional state too. It teaches me to be with discomfort, to do hard things, to be disciplined, and to discover that I can do hard things. It gives me focus and a reason to show up for myself. When I exercise, I feel stronger, more alive, more energised. I even love the ache that comes after lifting heavy, that delicious awareness of new sensations, new muscles making themselves known. I love that.

Where to begin if you're not sure how

I remember when I first started weight training a few years ago. I had no idea how to use the machines, and I'd look across the gym at these incredibly strong men lifting my own bodyweight or more over their heads as if it were a feather. It felt intimidating, and for a moment I wondered if I even belonged there. And honestly, it brought up more than just confusion about the equipment. There was something more uncomfortable underneath it, a kind of self-questionning myself, almost a shame, about being a beginner, about not knowing, about being seen struggling or doing it wrong. I think a lot of people feel this and don't say it out loud. So I'm saying it here: that feeling is completely normal, and it does pass.

Over time, something shifted. I started noticing that the gym is actually full of people of all ages, shapes, and abilities, each one doing their own thing, each one on their own journey. Nobody is watching you as closely as you think. And everyone started somewhere.

If you're not sure where to begin, here are a few ideas that have helped me and others.

The video I shared above is a genuinely wonderful starting point. It walks through some of the main exercises you can do, explained clearly and without any intimidation. It's a great watch even just for the inspiration.

If you prefer more personal guidance, hiring a personal trainer, even for just a few sessions, can make a real difference. Having someone show you how to use the equipment safely, and how to build a simple routine that suits your body, takes away so much of the guesswork and uncertainty. It's an investment that pays off quickly.

If you'd rather start on your own, apps like Fitbod are brilliant for this. Fitbod learns your fitness level and creates personalised workouts for you, telling you exactly what to do, how many sets and reps, and how to progress over time. You don't need to know anything in advance. You just show up and follow the plan.

The most important thing is simply to start, imperfectly, without waiting until you feel ready. Because that feeling of readiness rarely arrives on its own. You build it by moving.

Movement and intimacy

I notice this in my own body too. Exercise doesn't just change how I look or how strong I feel. It changes how present I am, how alive I feel in my own skin, and that naturally flows into intimacy as well.

When we exercise, circulation improves throughout the body, including blood flow to the genitals. Hormones linked to desire and pleasure are supported. We often feel more confident and more at home in ourselves. Strength, stamina and breath all translate into how we experience closeness and sensation.

A body that feels alive tends to respond more fully to pleasure. Practices that involve the legs, hips and core, whether that's walking, strength training, yoga or dancing, also support the pelvic area, which plays a central role in sexuality for both women and men. When this area is weak or disconnected, intimacy can be quietly affected. When it is supported and responsive, pleasure has more space to move through us.

The Year of the Horse began on February 17th. I started returning to the gym and to yoga in January, and I already feel a little stronger. And now, I have to go, to gallop, quite literally, into the gym.

I wish you a beautiful 2026. May it be filled with joy, connection, and habits that truly support you.

Love,

Rosie x