Do and Say "I did it"

[Suzanne Sanders]

Are you someone that posts pictures of yourself in various yoga poses to your Instagram account, or someone that unfollows those who do? Health and fitness has definitely enjoyed its time in the spotlight these past few years and for good reason - the benefits are undeniable - but for many of us the constant "fitspiration" of celebrities, models and our own friends and families waxing lyrical about their packed exercise casts our own once-weekly gym trip into a rather underwhelming light. For a lot of people, exercise is not done with unbounded enthusiasm and vigour - rather with a grim determination and a slightly underused-looking workout kit.

The motivation, though, is the moment where you can say: "I did it", and revel in the physical and mental benefits safe in the knowledge that you did your best, which is why Nike's new advertising campaign is their most inspiring yet. Yes, the brand works with amazing and inspiring athletes and yes, the product is great, but here Nike appeals to the everyday woman - the woman who sneaks (often slightly late…) into the yoga class, rolls out her mat in the least conspicuous place available and tries to focus on her own wobbly eagle pose rather than being distracted by the whippet-thin woman in front of her on her third class of the day. In the film we see women fighting to catch up with the pack when out running, struggling to maintain their clear-minded focus in yoga class and desperately watching the clock as they battle to stay in a plank position. It's funny, it's frank and it's very familiar.

No, there's nothing wrong with being enthusiastic about exercise and about sharing that enthusiasm, but there's equally nothing wrong with gritting your teeth throughout your morning run, cursing your pilates instructor (under your breath) during class or feeling like the person lifting the smallest weights in the room as long as you can come to the end of the session and say: "I did it."