Welcome
My Journey with Ankylosing Spondylitis
My experience of living with AS and the benefits I gained using a mindset change, breathwork and cold exposure.
The Story Behind Kidda Body & Mind
My journey with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), breathwork, cold exposure and mindset.
I'm Jay Forden. In 2009 I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). For nearly a decade, I lived with chronic pain, extreme fatigue, and the frustration of physical limits that disrupted both my work and private life.
Medication helped manage symptoms, but the mental toll of the unpredictable flares, disrupted sleep, and feeling of being out of control was just as challenging.
Fast forward to 2018, I explored the mind-body connection and was blown away with the science and physical impact of our thought. I quickly realised resilience was not about enduring more. It was about responding differently.
That journey inspired Kidda Body & Mind and this is where I share what I’ve tried, what I’ve learned and the practices that have become part of my everyday life.
I began to focus on my mindset, breathwork, and cold exposure. My health improved dramatically very quickly, but more importantly, my relationship with how I reacted to situations changed. I learned how to reset rather than push through.
- Breathwork: How breathing practices became part of my routine, and my experience of using them to pause, focus and unwind.
- Cold Exposure: My journey with cold showers and cold-water immersion, including the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
- Mindset: How I approach challenges, question my thinking and focus on the things I can influence.
Where My Journey Led
What I learned through my own experience also shaped my work as a leadership performance coach, the development of my framework The Reset Loop® and my book, RESET: A Practical Guide to Clarity, Confidence & Control.
My book brings together practical ideas for recognising patterns, questioning your thinking and responding differently to pressure.
For more about my book, The Reset Loop® and leadership coaching, visit www.jayforden.com
