Your size, your age, your colour shouldn’t be a barrier to you moving

Life is all about experiences – but you have to be well enough to have those experiences, says Sian Horn.

That was the entrepreneur’s motivation behind a recent photo campaign designed to get people moving, and keep them mobile.

Sian, who has not been under a size 16 in her adult life and is very comfortable in her body, wants people to realise the joy of movement regardless of their age, shape or size.

“I do think there’s still a certain stigma surrounding size and its association with health; people assume you’re lazy and eating cream buns if you’re a larger size, and sometimes you have to work harder just to prove you’re not,” said Sian, pictured inset.

“The message I want to get out is that your size, your age, your colour, shouldn’t be a barrier to you moving – just get moving and feel the benefits. And if you’re uncomfortable in one class or doing one activity, then you’re just in the wrong place. It’s never too late to find your ‘thing’.

“There is a something out there for you, you just haven’t found it yet,” she said.

Retired UCC lecturer Mary Breen, who took part in the photo campaign, is a huge believer that ‘movement is medicine’ Mary, who lives in Bandon, recently turned 72, and retired at 65 from UCC, where she lectured in 18th century literature. She played tennis and cycled all her life, but when she retired she started to focus more on positive aging, and what she could do to help herself.

“People are living longer, but are not always healthy. There’s a feeling that because you’re old, you’re also ‘done’,” she said.

Mary most certainly wasn’t ‘done’, and trained as a yoga teacher, travelling to India twice as part of that experience.

“I started teaching in Cork, but that made me realise there was more I needed to know, so I did a sports science degree, a BSc in strength and conditioning,” said Mary.

She now also trains clients in a gym, and she’s currently undertaking a degree in osteopathic medicine. She also has her own YouTube channel where she shares techniques for movement.

“I call it a ‘journey to joyful movement’. I’m not about trying to stay young forever, or being skinny or super-fit, but getting to a healthy place. I feel that most of us can do a lot better with what we have, incorporating movement into our daily lives so that’s it’s not a big issue. There’s huge pleasure in capturing the pleasure of living in a fitter body,” she said.

Sian agrees. As well as encouraging people to move, she’s a huge advocate in being whatever you want to be.

“I’m sick of people saying you have to decide what you want to do! You don’t! I’m 52 and I’m running three businesses because I love variety. Life is about experiences – but you have to be well enough to have those experiences, and that’s back to the mobility.”

Sian has recently relaunched her hugely successful Be Belle podcast series, which delves into the true stories behind successful business woman.

“I take my guests back to the beginning, where it all started. You can become your brand and forget your journey and what made you the person you are today. I delve into what gave women that drive and steel, the reason for it.”

Never one to sit on her laurels, she’s already thinking ahead to the next podcast series which will launch in September. In the meantime her message is to... get moving!

Melanie Poussin, creator and movement advocate

“I was excited to be a part of the shoot, from the planning to the realisation, as it was reuniting different ages, body sizes and love for movement to represent inclusion and representation.

“Movement can be overwhelming and daunting for some women because of the association with the diet culture so it was also a way for us to express that all type of movement is valid and good for the health once it’s enjoyable for you.

“All the creatives who worked on this project shared the same values so it was a wonderful experience overall.”

Fiona Buckley, make-up artist

“When Sian approached me to get involved in this shoot it, was a no-brainer. What a great message and such an important one to get out there. Working with such inspirational women was a pleasure.”

Lauren Marples, yoga instructor

“Yoga and movement help me to get out of my head and into my body. In my early twenties, I struggled with anxiety. It affected me socially and physically. I felt pressure and tension in my chest and shoulders. I started practicing yoga to help relieve some of this tension, without realising it would actually help me overcome anxiety altogether.

“When I practice yoga, I feel myself. I feel free and this feeling is my why for becoming a yoga teacher. My wish is for everyone to find a movement practice they love and that helps them to feel good mentally and physically. That is why I was so excited to participate in this shoot. Movement is for everyone.”