This month’s blog is slightly different because Easter has arrived and I wanted to share with you what Easter means to me. Growing up in a Jamaican Christian household there’s three things that I always look forward to.

1. 1. My sister and I grew up attending Downsview Methodist Church in Norwood and on Easter Friday the entire congregation would walk to nearby St Oswald’s church. There we would have part of our service outdoors in memory of Jesus Christ crucifixion. We would then walk back up to our church and complete the service on the local green just across the road from Downsview. I remember having hot cross buns and tea (the cross on the bun symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus Christ). The memories I have of this brings me so much joy, especially as I look at how it brought our community together with Love and Unity. I cannot wait for this to return.

   2. The second thing I look forward to is more cultural. In the week leading up to Palm Sunday my mum would buy, prepare and season the fish she got from Brixton market. We would eat this on Easter Friday, with our traditional Hardough bread, it’s a soft sweet bread that is so so tasty. Maybe not that great for you, but who says you can’t treat yourself as Hannah said in her self-care newsletter last week.The combination of the cooked snapper with Hardough bread is something that makes me proud and joyous to be Jamaican, and I’m grateful to my parents for introducing and continuing this throughout our life, right to this day.

1. 1. The famous Bun and cheese, now this is something that we should all experience, the Jamaican bun comes in a loaf form, is brown and soft. It is made with dried fruit, different spices and stout. The queue for this bread outdoes the queue that you see for the Covid vaccination. Shops in Lewisham, Catford, Croydon and Brixton are all rammed with eagerly anticipating customers. It’s advised that you go a few days in advance to ensure you get a good batch of bun and cheese. The Jamaican bun is a family of the hot cross buns, traditionally it’s eaten on Good Friday. This tradition landed in Jamaica when Britain colonized the island in the mid-1600s, the cheese we use is called “taste cheese” originally made in New Zealand, you can eat the bun and cheese like a sandwich or just with a slice of bun with cheese on top, give it a try if you haven’t already.

It’s easy to feel guilty when eating so much during celebratory events such as Easter .This is where my training routine comes in handy, my routine gives peace of mind, and allows me to be present so that I can enjoy all this beautifully prepared food that I wouldn’t want to miss out on. Without this in place I become anxious and not very pleasant to be around.

 If you struggle with a routine, or find it difficult to motivate yourself to train, please respond to this e-mail and I will be happy to help.

These traditions have contributed to me feeling connected and passionate about my Jamaican culture, which in turn positively impacts my mental health. It brings my family together which is tied to love. The Hardough bread and fish followed by the bun and cheese not only fill me up, but the soft sweet taste brings a smile and joy to my heart that only few can, and last but not least I am reminded of the sacrifice my Lord and savoir Jesus Christ made, when he gave Himself up on the cross and died for us, then rose again on the 3rd day, so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Make our virtual membership part of your fitness routine, try out our Virtual membership free for 30 days, and hit the link below to get started.

https://sayaw.co.uk/product/virtual-membership/