Soft Power: Sharrman Maran on the power of saying no

Hello and thanks for being here! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

 Thank you for having me! I’m Sharrman - I live in Naarm (Melbourne), and I am a Pilates teacher by trade. Currently I am the Training Manager of Breathe Education, the fastest growing online Pilates education provider in the world. My days are filled with leading a team of incredible educators to facilitate the learning journeys of new and developing Pilates professionals. Ultimately, I help people live a professionally and financially rewarding life that they love by teaching movement.

My passion projects include teaching IRL at Good Times Pilates, studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science, spending lots of time cooking and (hopefully) lounging by the local pool during our upcoming hot vaxxed summer.

We're living in truly strange times, how has COVID affected what you do?

I am beyond blessed to be able to work 100% online, even when we aren’t locked TF down. As Breathe Education allows our students to take their study with them wherever they are in the world, I too get to choose where I work. 

But let’s be real, life is a lot more than work and my day-to-day has definitely been looking a little different over the past 18 months. I’ve been doing my best to lean on a daily routine that keeps my mind and body feeling cared for, because lockdowns won't last forever, and that’s something to look forward to. 

If anything, I think that the pandemic has, for the lack of a better term, set my priorities straight. I’ve become a massive fan of say no to things that don’t bring me joy, and HELL YES to things that do.

Lockdowns suck (necessary, but not fun!), how have you found power in what sometimes feels like a powerless situation? 

Extended periods of lockdown have meant that the concept of leisure is pretty elusive. Activities that once used to be an excitable pleasure lose their sparkle, and your daily routine slowly becomes a little lacklustre. 

To take back my power, and add a little bit of fun back into my life, I have proceeded to do the most random things I could’ve thought of. These activities include learning how to draw in adulthood, and a daily session of K-Pop dance practice. My stick figures are still a little sketchy (see what I did there?), but my BLACKPINK is pretty lit. 

Perhaps the most impactful thing I’ve done this year was getting vaccinated. I remember being at the height of my frustration during lockdown 5 (the one before the one we’re currently in here in Melbourne, I know right?) - I was angry at the world. After feeling sorry for myself for the better part of the day, I realised that the biggest piece of the puzzle that was in my control was my vaccination status. I booked my first jab the next day and instantly felt like I was doing something impactful for my health and the health of the world around me.

Have you learnt any lessons or picked up any little rituals you'll take with you out of lockdown? 

Publicly taking mental health days, and being fiercely unapologetic about it. 

As the leader of a team that is growing around the world, I firmly believe in leading by example. I am constantly checking in with my mental health, and I place my self-care strategies at the top of my priority list so that I can show up as a better team member, educator and human being. If I have a day when I don’t have it within me to show up as the best and brightest version of myself, I take the day off.

 I post on Slack that I’m taking the day for my mental health, update my email auto reply, turn off notifications and put my phone on DND. Part of this is to establish a clear boundary that I’m doing ‘me’ today, but also to create visibility around the importance of mental health care and destigmatisation. 

 So the next time you wake up and think “I can’t do it today”, don’t. Do you, instead.

What are your plans for when we're finally free? 

 I’m going to spend the day at the beach, the evening with a wine in hand on Gertrude St., and the night dancing next to sweaty strangers again. Actually, that’s still as gross as ever - scratch that last part.

Lastly, tell us about some people who inspire you. 

All of the incredible clients and students I’ve encountered who are brave enough to engage in movement for the sake of more than what they look like. You give me life, and are a reminder that toxic fitness and diet culture may be strong, but the willingness to move from a place of joy, exploration and fun, is stronger. 

And of course, a shout out to all of the incredible studio owners and teachers that are out there facilitating inclusive, body neutral spaces for people to play - the W.S.S, Barrett sister duo especially included.