Today we're celebrating International Women's day!

This year's theme is to 'Inspire Inclusion' which aligns perfectly with the work we are doing at Active Dorset to ensure that equality, diversity, and inclusion run through everything we do.

Recently we've been thinking a lot about physical literacy and how everyone's relationship with physical activity and movement is different, and changes over time. Today we want to share the experience and relationships with physical activity of the women in our team, over their life course.

The graph below shows a collective view of those relationships and how they have changed over time. 'Who' has influenced us or 'what' has influenced us at different times in our lives.

"Over the last 7 years my activity levels have really fluctuated, mainly due to having had 3 pregnancies. One type of activity I had never tried before being pregnant was Pilates. It was great way to reintroduce physical activity after childbirth. Doing classes with other new mums was so helpful and provided us with a support network."

Kit, Health and Physical Activity Officer

"It was when only I started to have a family that my activity levels changed. I needed to rethink what I could do, that would fit in with family life. As I grow older, it's my experience that having a positive relationship with movement brings health, well-being, fun and great friendships!"

Annie, CYP Officer

It is fascinating to see the similarities and differences of experience and relationship. The dips and troughs reveal points in their lives, where our team of women faced challenges or barriers to being active. These included:

- periods of low confidence
- low mental health
- poor physical health
- living away from home - e.g. at university or college
- starting a family
- lacking time
- being ill or living with a long-term health condition
- carrying an injury
- work

Do any of these resonate with you? What or who has shaped your relationship with physical activity? Who or what helps motivate and support you to move now?