There are some activities you can do almost automatically.
And then there are sports that ask you to be completely there.
Physically.
Mentally.
Instinctively.
Those are usually the ones I enjoy the most.
Over the years, sport has become much more than something connected to my profession.
Of course, being physically fit matters enormously for what I do.
But that is no longer the only reason I train.
I do it for myself.
I like feeling strong.
I like feeling coordinated.
I like knowing that my body can respond when I ask something from it.
And perhaps most importantly, I like the feeling of having a body that is capable, not simply one that looks fit.
That distinction has become increasingly important to me.
An athletic body, in my mind, is not defined only by muscles or appearance.
It is a body that moves well.
A body with balance, mobility, strength and control.
A body that can accelerate, stabilise, react, recover and adapt to different movements.
That is also one of the reasons I enjoy doing different sports.
Each one asks something slightly different from you.
Some challenge endurance.
Others demand balance.
Some require strength.
Others coordination, speed, flexibility or precision.
And when you move between them, you start discovering your body in completely different ways.
Something that feels easy in one discipline can suddenly become difficult in another.
Muscles you thought were strong are challenged differently.
Your balance changes.
Your reactions change.
Your awareness changes.
I find that fascinating.
Because fitness, for me, has never been about becoming excellent at one exercise.
It is about building a body that can do many things well.
Strong enough when strength is needed.
Mobile enough when movement is needed.
Stable enough when everything around you is moving.
And relaxed enough not to waste energy fighting against your own body.
There is also an aesthetic side to it.
I like looking athletic.
I like feeling toned and strong.
I don’t think there is anything superficial about enjoying the result of taking care of your body.
But appearance alone would never keep me interested.
What motivates me much more is what that body allows me to do.
To ride.
To train.
To run.
To try another sport.
To get on a motorcycle.
To challenge myself physically simply because I can.
There is a freedom in that.
The freedom to move well.
To feel strong.
To try something new without wondering whether your body can handle it.
That, for me, is one of the best reasons to train.
Not simply to become better at one particular sport.
But to build a body that gives you possibilities.
And sport gives me something else that I love.
Presence.
When something requires balance, timing, coordination or physical effort, there is very little room for distraction.
Your attention comes back to your body.
To the movement.
To what is happening right now.
For that moment, everything becomes very simple.
Move.
Feel.
React.
Breathe.
Continue.
Maybe that is why I have never really wanted to choose only one kind of sport.
I like discovering what else my body can learn.
Because for me, being fit has never been only about how the body looks.
It is about keeping it ready for life.
Strong enough to perform.
Free enough to move.
And capable enough to keep saying yes to the things I still want to do.
Silvia
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