I began my ‘sporting career’ as a community campaigner and my first notable campaign (and writing experience)  was in fact starting a petition at primary school to allow girls to play football in P.E. and have our own team. As a result, I got on a Sky Sports scholarship and have kept playing ever since, well when I can (albeit at the same level sadly to my 8-year-old self, which was good at the time but means I struggled to compete as an adult!). 

Due to joining a grassroots women’s team when moving to a part of Wakefield from Sheffield and then setting a club up (all of us rough and ready but down-to-earth), it was much more about creating an accessible ‘movement’ of women come rain, shine, family, and life challenges! From breastfeeding on the sidelines to attending church regularly muddy in the kit but with pride… it’s a relief to see things have progressed to make sports more accessible again (although I do run a free blog YorkshireFamilies.co.uk and we are exploring why sports stadiums and the ticketing process are still full of barriers pre and post Pandemic for disabled people. 

That said this Euros has seen our team of footballers all with a social conscience from standing up against racism, homophobia, raising money for the Pandemic and campaigning for free school dinners whilst sharing their own background stories – our young national team not only visually but more importantly moralistically share the values and have the lived experience of true England. 

Whilst for me it has been a time of separation as I have spent most of the Euros in hospital, away from family, friends and my accessibility writer I coach on Skype. That said he is an avid football fan nicknamed Digital Dan and I’ve been teaching him podcasting skills and listening to his passionate Podcasts to keep me up to date! Every cloud… as Dan who has autism, has also learned how to create his own sports blog, writes: 

“Football has united me and my social media coach in different ways during the Euros…” because for the last month, football fever has hit the nation and the world with the delayed European Championships being played in 2021 across 11 cities.

The Euros is a major competition that only comes around every 4 or in this case 5 years, and a rare chance for your country to win something, so I got excited when it came round and hoped England would have a good tournament with their young and exciting squad.

The Euros has taught me how to structure my blogs in a way people can understand who may not have followed the tournament, and it’s also taught me how to do short podcasts on key points of games.  It has given me a schedule and a purpose  and it’s given me new skills like talking into the phone to do a podcast, I’ve included video links to highlights and I’ve also been updating my social media coach while she’s been in hospital by sending her match reports and putting them on Yorkshire Families and my own sports blog: dansssportsblogweb.wordpress.com.

On the other side of the coin, it has affected my social media coach in a different way as from 18th June until now she’s been in hospital, so she’s missed all of the action apart from one game where she got told off for going near the men’s ward to watch a game, but she’s been happy with my updates as we both love football and even though she hasn’t been able to watch much of the Euros she has been healing and recovering very slowly.

So I would say it’s been a very good Euro 2020 in 2021 and spoiler alert England didn’t win it, but they have made the country proud of the national team once again.” 

And as Sophie says: I see this period a big win for the team in ethics, a new generation of sport and life has emerged from the darkness of some of this Pandemic. So we are so grateful to all the sports teams keeping our communities thriving in lockdown and beyond, now is the time for grassroots to rise up and be truly as respected as the humble roots of our beautiful national squad… no longer people of fame and WAG tokenism… but true heroes much like the staff, volunteers and healing patients here in hospital. I for one am on the early bird watch for tickets to the Women’s Euros next year and the World Cup… good things come to those who believe, dream and play sport in harmony! 

Read more at https://YorkshireFamilies.co.uk 

WORKOUTS OF THE WEEK FOR MIND AND BODY: 

Mind  – Special Yoga for Special Adults: 

The emotional disconnection from mind or physical disconnection from the body leads to senses becoming dulled. Yoga is a “union of mind and body” and addresses this adverse effects by inviting change, adaptation and growth on all levels. 

Challenge: Explore what therapeutic part of this practice could work for you or a loved one: 

• Chanting/Sound work 
• Breathing (Pranayama) 
• Postures (Asanas) 
• Sensory Integration 
• Meditation and Mindfulness 
• Relaxation (Savasana) 
• Specific Massage Points 

Special Yoga empowers everyone to “embark every their beauty and fulfil their potential”. 

@CoActive_Arts 

Body – From bed yoga to power yoga!:

Whatever you feel like try Yoga to flow with you! Start gentle and in bed – try reclining goddess pose or simply lie in bed with legs up against wall. 

Life – Chair Yoga: 

Whether your sat at work or watching TV – try a chair yoga pose! So you can get into a Warrior Pose or simply sitting and feeling grounded in mind and body, focusing on the breath. 

Body workout: 

Workout 1

Full body workout 

1.) Decline push ups  x10 

2.) Banded rows x10

3.)  Side lunges x10  (each side)

Repeat 3-4 sets , Rest 60-90 seconds between each round.

Workout 2

Full body workout 

1.) Incline push up x10 

2.) Banded squats x10

3.) Banded hip bridges x10 

Repeat 3-4 sets , Rest 60-90 seconds between each round.