It’s time for Analogue Fitness

The tide is turning, slowly but surely. There’s a growing population who are looking to live more IRL (In Real Life). Screentime is eating into our lifetime, and with it we are losing our fitness and our body awareness.

Facebook wasn’t a ‘thing’ when I started Griffen Fitness in 2005, cycling to individuals’ homes and getting them fit with whatever I could fit in my pannier bag. Analogue fitness is about learning how to keep in shape by listening and responding to your own body’s needs. Nowadays activity monitors are de rigeur, but if you have some simple knowledge you can tune into your own body, minus intrusive technology. You have all you need to be fit and healthy. In fact, your body wants to be active, but modern life has you stuck in your seat, glued to a screen and convinced that exercise is “for other people”. It needn’t be.

Analogue fitness is about abandoning your screen / phone / smart watch and moving just for the sake of moving. Switching off and tuning in. An advantage of unplugging for exercise is that you can become aware of your own breathing and effort level. Body awareness is a skill that many of us are losing. Tuning in to how your body is feeling can give you a sense of freedom.

Numerous scientific studies have proved that exercise helps your brain function. Want to think better? Do 30 minutes of concentrated reading then go for a fast walk. We were born to move and our peripheral nervous system (in our arms and legs) feeds back to our central nervous system (spine and brain). We can improve our mood just by going for a walk or having a dance / bike ride / swim / whatever movement you prefer.

We are the owners of our almighty body, as well as the curators of our own brain. Forget whatever other people are doing online and get moving for your own self.

Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen passionately believes no matter your body shape, age, ailments or mental outlook, we all have it in us to enjoy movement and exercise. In fact she specialises in teach ‘reluctant’ exercisers how to enjoy fitness! Contact her for your free phone consultation

Published in Trinity Spotlight magazine, August 2026