Midlife Musings... Interview with Tracy Byrne, owner of Burnzone

"I wish that the never ending “guilt” that women feel about anything and everything could evaporate and that they would feel universally supported in their life choices, whatever they may be."

“Be kind, love fiercely, embrace your potential and enjoy all that nature has to offer.”

Every couple of weeks I’m posting an interview with inspiring midlifers on topics ranging from beliefs, goals and habits, to food, mood and mojo; from sex, success and style, to fitness, health and hormones, from sleep, skin and hair to career, change and challenges and a bit of whatever else you fancy that affects us women at midlife. This is Tracy Byrne, owner of Burnzone, a wellbeing business focussed on empowering women to take control of their physical and mental well-being.

Tracy doesn’t do things by half. Not exercise. Not her business. Not meetings. (When I went for a meeting in her house, I didn’t just get a cup of of tea. I got warm, homemade bread). But it’s that depth that allows her to combine her love of exercise and fitness with a broader blanketing in emotional and mental wellbeing. There are plenty of fit people who can do push ups but can’t pull themselves up. For Tracy, the body and mind are essentially, intrinsically working out together. And like me, she believes women in midlife need the most help. We are so many things to so many people, we can forget how to be someone to ourselves. I’ve been on one of Tracy’s retreats, and felt not just the magical spell that exercise and nature produces but the camaraderie of women that is the secret ingredient: women embracing each other as much as the ab crunches. Her holistic approach to health means her clients come away not just with fitter bodies, but fitter souls.

I now work with Tracy, alongside stylist Aoife Dunican (her Midlife Musings interview is here) on our regular event The Confidence Conversation (next Dublin date to be announced soon) where we explore the three midlife superpowers of mindset, health and style.

Here’s Tracy’s thoughts on exercise, gut instinct and loving fiercely.

Hi Tracy, why do you do what you do?

I work with women through small group classes to work on building the essential strength we all need to combat declining muscle mass and bone density.  We improve balance and flexibility to reduce the risk of falls or injuries which have the potential to impact our independence. Most important of all, I provide a safe, non-judgemental space where women can just “be”, where they can meet likeminded people, share their experiences and have fun whilst taking care of themselves.  I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with women and showing them how crucial it is for them to prioritise their self-care.

What’s the best bit of advice you wish you’d been given sooner?

Comparison is truly the thief of time!

What would you tell your 20 year old self?

You are making the right choice by deciding not to continue with law after you graduate.  Your path into the world of International banking will be a challenging one but you will get opportunities to travel and learn.  Trust your instincts more and persevere because ultimately your path will lead to true love and a real sense of happiness.  Your best investment to date has been in your friendships - these will endure!

What must have happened, or for you to have experienced or achieved that hasn’t yet, that you’d look back at 99 and say “Yes!”.

I think the ultimate “Yes!” moment for me will be seeing my 4 children flown and grown and content with their lives.  On a professional level, knowing that my business had a profound and lasting effect on my clients and that their lives were enhanced by working with me.  The icing on the cake will be sitting on my sun lounger somewhere gloriously sunny near the sea, glass of bubbles in hand, doing this look back on my 99th birthday. 

Tell us one of the toughest things you’ve gone through and what you learned as a result.

In my mid-twenties I had a very traumatic encounter with someone who had been recommended to me for treatment after a car accident.  The incident impacted me both physically and mentally and my confidence and trust in others was shattered.  Counselling was recommended and I am eternally grateful to a woman called Ann who brought me back from the brink and showed me that I could trust people again.  I learned that in the midst of our darkest moments, there is light and goodness and that in future I will always trust my gut to protect me and those I love.     

If you could wave a midlife magic wand, what you most wish for for women today?

I would wish that the never ending “guilt” that women feel about anything and everything could evaporate and that they would feel universally supported in their life choices, whatever they may be.

What matters most in your own midlife?

My own peace of mind, following my daily routine and staying true to who I am and what I believe in.

What is a midlife mantra you try to live by?

I wouldn’t call it a midlife mantra, more a mantra for life:

Be kind, love fiercely, embrace your potential and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

What would you like to share about the work you do and why it’s important for women in midlife?

All women over the age of 40 need to realise that incorporating weight bearing exercise into their daily routine is a non-negotiable fact of life.  We are living in a world of greater life expectancy and opportunity, so ensuring that our physical health is robust enough to support all that we aspire to achieve, is crucial.  I love that my qualifications as a personal trainer and NLP Practitioner/Life Coach, provide me with the necessary skillset to guide women through their journey to sustainable physical and mental wellbeing.  I feel privileged to be in a position to provide real “Reset” opportunities to solopreneurs and corporate teams via my Burnzone Retreats and Burnzone Reset Days.   My love of nature and community building inspired me to create these offerings and I feel so fortunate to have witnessed the very real changes it has evoked in those who have joined me to date.   

Links to Burnzone

www.burnzone.ie

Next Burnzone Reset Days are:

September 15th

September 29th

October 20th

October 27th

November 10th

November 17th

November 24th

Tickets for the next The Confidence Conversation will be available soon.

To keep up to date on upcoming events and webinars, follow me on Instagram @midlifecoach