Matt Rodwell on Movement, Mindfulness and the Art of Feeling Well
Matt Rodwell, founder of Arc Athletics gym in London, shares his mantra to Art of Feeling Well: How movement, mindfulness, and discipline shape his approach to physical and mental health.
How did you get into fitness?
I grew up in Zimbabwe where sport was compulsory, so I've been playing every form of sport I could since I was a kid. I used to surf professionally and started doing CrossFit as a way to help me surf better. But then I fell in love with competing in the sport of CrossFit.
How do you use movement as meditation?
I think training and exercise has been a form of therapy for me before I had a therapist. Exercise and training were that sort of one safe space where I could go and just forget about all the other things.
So for me it's a way of downregulating and doing something that's independently for me and not for anyone else. So yeah, it's a big part of my life.
How does exercise make you feel?
Exercise makes me feel more calm, more relaxed. And it helps keep me on an even keel. I think without the exercise I tend to tip either one way or the other.
Where’s your favourite place to clear your mind?
Either my gym Arc Athletics or the ocean or taking my dog for a walk.
Talk us through your daily routine including any wellness rituals.
Typically I wake up at five, come downstairs, water, coffee, take my Pre + Probiotic supplements and then get on the road and get to work. In terms of rituals, I just try to make sure I get an hour of exercise in, five to six days a week. And then I spend an hour out in the morning with my dog and then another hour in the evening before I go into my next block of coaching. But it's pretty structured in terms of how I break down my days and break down my life.
PRE + PROBIOTIC
Your daily synbiotic to fuel good bacteria in the gut: the backbone of good health.
What does health mean to you?
Capability. The ability to do things. Whether it's going surfing with my dad or taking my dog on a hike. I've got a son coming into the world soon. Being able to play and do things actively with him. Health and activity are important.
How do you stay in tune with your body?
I try to listen to it. But that's easier said than done. Living in London, it's really important to find safe spaces that allow you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle. Because otherwise you just feel like you're constantly on the go and it'll run you into the ground.
So for me, being outdoors and making sure I make that hour a day to do my training and my exercise allow me to keep things in tune.
How do you embody ‘The Art of Feeling Well’ and what does it mean to you?
I embody the art of feeling well by honouring my principles. And trying to be a good example for those in my life and those around me. Working hard, staying consistent, being disciplined. They're small little decisions we make every day that make the sum up of who we are and what we are.