Week 4 Recap – Balance, Breath & Mental Strength
- joy stalteri
- Jul 25, 2025
- 3 min read
As we enter the last few weeks of our summer season, Week 4 of Juniper Kyz was all about balance—between movement and stillness, power and softness, body and mind. Each session took us a little deeper: into our training, into ourselves, and into the kind of strength that lasts beyond a single run.
Tuesday – Strength & Sprinting at Park Adinai
We returned to Park Adinai for a dynamic session focused on form, speed, and muscle activation:
СБУ (strength and mobility drills)
Lunges on the stairs
Stair sprints to build explosive power
With final projects on the horizon, the girls are starting to put everything they’ve learned into practice—approaching each workout with purpose, focus, and grit.
Thursday – Mental Health & Sports with Psychologist Bermet Tursunalieva
We welcomed psychologist Bermet Tursunalieva for a special session on mental well-being in sport. In a supportive and thoughtful space, she guided a conversation on:
Recognizing and avoiding burnout
Why listening to our bodies is an act of care
How to stay motivated over time, especially when training gets tough
This was a chance for everyone to reflect on their internal landscape—what’s working, what needs support, and how to move forward with compassion and clarity.
“The online session with the psychologist was an important part of the week. We discussed questions about motivation, fear of not being able to cope with everything on our plate, and how to form long-term habits. I left the session with more clarity and inner support, which will helps a lot not only in sports, but also in life. Practicing yoga in nature was a real breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. Slow stretching, breathing exercises and contact with nature helped me relax deeply and reset. Overall, the week turned out to be productive and harmonious. I feel like not only is my athletic state developing, but also a new habit of taking care of myself more consciously..”
— Aida Duishenbekova
Saturday – Yoga in Nature with Dinara Djunusova
We stepped away from the city and into the calm of Besh Kungei, where Dinara Djunusova welcomed us onto her outdoor patio for a peaceful and challenging yoga session.
The quiet surroundings—the chirping birds, open air, and gentle breeze—set the tone for a new kind of practice. One focused not on pace, but on presence.
“Each week we learn something new and visit new places. The fourth week was one of the most interesting for me because we went to yoga. This was a new experience for me and I learned how to control my body. I’m really glad that we’re not limited to running, but rather, we try different types of sports and develop intellectually.”
— Sezim Turdumambetova
What We’re Learning
This week reminded us that progress isn’t just about distance or speed—it’s about learning how to care for ourselves as whole people. Through movement, breath, and honest conversation, we are building more than just running endurance.
We’re building resilience, balance, and a deeper connection to our own strength.
“Running is more than just a sport. When you run, you take up space. You become visible. Your strength is noticeable. Your body is in movement, not in submission.This is why sport, especially outdoor, mass sports have always been about more than just health, but about strength, too.Running doesn’t require special equipment, permission or other participants. Running is a way to be alone with yourself and feel your body’s limits, rhythm, and will. In this [practice] there is a special kind of freedom available to everybody.”
— Anonymous Participant
📸 Follow our journey on Instagram @juniper_kyz
Let’s keep building strength—in all its forms.
Together.
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