Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
Kristian Nairn, the beloved 49-year-old actor known globally for his portrayal of Hodor in the HBO fantasy epic Game of Thrones, has officially withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing. The decision, Nairn reveals, stems from ongoing personal battles with mental health and overwhelming emotional stress.
In a heartfelt public statement, Nairn expressed the difficulty of his decision:
“I have a grief and a bit of pain in myself and I am in stress, and it is too much for me, right now to handle.”
The announcement came shortly after the official line-up for this season of Strictly Come Dancing was revealed. Nairn, who was scheduled to appear as a contestant, cited “painful mental health and stress crises” as the primary reasons for stepping back.
He addressed fans directly, saying:
“I am saddened and heartily, I apologise to my fans who wished to see me in the show and be there to entertain. But it is very difficult for me to take this decision and move on from it.”
Sarah James, the show’s executive producer, responded with empathy and support, saying:
“It is truly sad news for all of us and for the show, which has been running for 22 years. I wanted Kristian to be with us, but he is not in the show due to his mental and stressful pain. We wish him a happy and speedy recovery.”
Strictly Come Dancing, a flagship BBC One program since 2004, has become a staple in television entertainment. Kristian’s exit marks a significant moment, highlighting the often unspoken pressures of public life.
Fans may also recognize Nairn from his recent role as Wee John Feeney in Our Flag Means Death, an HBO Max comedy series that concluded in October 2023 after a one-year run.
The show’s producers have confirmed that a replacement for Nairn may be announced shortly. Meanwhile, messages of support from fans, colleagues, and mental health advocates continue to pour in.
LONDON: A LinkedIn post by entrepreneur Dan Murray is making waves after he shared why employees should make it a habit to leave the office on time. His message, centered on work-life balance, has resonated with thousands of professionals who often find themselves caught in endless work cycles.
Murray, who is based in London, explained that while work will always be there, health, family, and personal happiness should never be put on hold. He stressed that sacrificing well-being for career growth often backfires, harming both personal life and professional productivity.
The 12 Reasons He Shared:
Work is a never-ending process
Your mental health is important
Quality time with loved ones is priceless
Rest and relaxation are essential for productivity
Setting boundaries is empowering
Work-life balance is crucial
Burnout is real and should be avoided
Time for hobbies and passions is fulfilling
More time for self-care and exercise
Your job does not define you
Life is too short to spend all your time at work
Your happiness and well-being should always come first
Murray concluded his post with a strong reminder: “When you care for yourself outside of work, you’ll be a better contributor to your team overall. Don’t sacrifice your well-being for work.”
How People Reacted Online
Within five days, the post has already gained over 3,900 views and nearly 400 comments. The reactions show how strongly the message has resonated with professionals across industries.
One user commented: “Long hours might look like commitment, but they often erode the very qualities that make work great. Boundaries, rest, and time for life outside the office are what keep people energised and creative.”
Another wrote: “Protecting your time is one of the smartest investments you can make in your work and your life.”
Some described Murray’s message as a “quiet manifesto for sustainable success.”
As one professional summed it up: “Leaving on time isn’t laziness; it’s leadership. The real win isn’t staying late—it’s showing up whole.”
From his early days as a professional footballer to becoming one of Goa’s most sought-after strength and conditioning coaches, Manish Malik has consistently followed one principle: excellence through preparation. Today, as he shapes the athletic future at Sporting Clube de Goa, he is also dreaming bigger — of a Goa where talent thrives on science, structure, and smart recovery.
Manish’s journey into strength and conditioning didn’t begin in a lab or gym — it started on the pitch. As a professional footballer, he was always curious about the deeper mechanics behind peak athletic performance. But like many athletes, he found himself confused and unaware about how and what to train. Over time, this curiosity blossomed into a genuine passion for sports science.
He came to realize that while talent and technique are essential, it’s the physical preparation — strength, conditioning, and recovery — that often decides whether a player can deliver consistent performances week after week. Football, being closest to his heart, naturally became the arena where he wanted to make the biggest impact.
A New Chapter with Sporting Clube de Goa
Manish’s coaching career took a defining turn when Sporting Clube de Goa, one of the most respected football institutions in the state, offered him an opportunity just as the club was promoted from I-League 3 to I-League 2. It was a pivotal moment — both for the club and for Manish. The timing felt right, and the club’s long-term vision aligned perfectly with his own goals.
What drew him to the Goan football network wasn’t just opportunity — it was the spirit of the sport in Goa. The football culture here is vibrant, emotional, and deeply rooted in its communities. Manish saw an opportunity not just to train athletes, but to elevate the entire ecosystem by blending that rich tradition with structured, science-backed training methods.
Science Meets Tradition
At Sporting Clube de Goa, Manish approaches strength and conditioning with a careful balance of innovation and tradition. Every training program begins with a deep dive into the player — their position, style of play, injury history, and current fitness level.
From there, he designs personalized plans that take into account the demands of the league — Goa’s intense heat, frequent travel, and high match density. His priority? Building explosive power, recovery capacity, and physical robustness — without compromising freshness across the season.
“Periodization is everything,” he says, explaining how his plans are structured to help players peak at the right times.
But it’s not just about pushing players harder — it’s also about knowing when to pull them back.
Recovery is Non-Negotiable
For Manish, recovery is just as crucial as the training itself. Without it, players can’t adapt, progress, or stay injury-free. That’s why his recovery protocols are as personalized as the workouts themselves.
From active recovery sessions and mobility drills to ice baths, sleep tracking, and even mindfulness practices, each method is carefully chosen based on the athlete’s unique needs.
“Every body is different,” he emphasizes. “So every recovery plan should be too.”
Blending Technology with Coaching Instincts
Manish is a strong believer in combining old-school fundamentals — discipline, strength, mobility — with modern sports science tools.
He still uses traditional sprint drills and strength routines, but now supplements them with data from GPS trackers, force plates, and jump mats. These tools help him quantify external load (distance covered, sprints), internal load (heart rate response), and neuromuscular feedback (asymmetries, power output).
“Technology doesn’t replace coaching — it sharpens it.”
Individualized Training, Team-Wide Results
Despite coaching a full squad, Manish treats each player as an individual. Pre-season assessments help him understand mobility, strength, endurance, and injury history. Based on this, he tailors training loads — a winger may need repeat sprints; a central midfielder may focus on aerobic capacity.
This attention to detail is especially critical in Goa, where many young players are naturally talented but lack structured strength training backgrounds. Personalized programming not only improves performance — it builds confidence.
Beyond the physical, Manish recognizes the mental pressures young Goan athletes face — juggling sport, academics, family expectations, and often, self-doubt.
As much as he builds physical strength, he’s equally focused on instilling discipline, consistency, and belief.
“Helping them believe in themselves is half the battle,” he says.
That mentorship — often happening off the pitch — might just be his most meaningful work.
Injury Prevention: A Year-Round Priority
Injury prevention, for Manish, starts long before the season begins. His programming emphasizes movement quality, mobility, and prehabilitation — routines that reduce risk before issues arise.
By monitoring workloads and staying in constant communication with the medical team, he ensures that small issues are identified early and never spiral into season-ending injuries.
Most importantly, strength work doesn’t stop after preseason — it’s integrated throughout the year.
A Vision for Goa’s High-Performance Future
Manish’s next big dream? Establishing a world-class high-performance center in Goa.
A space where both professionals and grassroots athletes can access the kind of facilities and expertise that were once only available in big cities. This center would feature:
A fully equipped S&C gym
Physiotherapy and rehab spaces
Ice bath and recovery rooms
Sports massage therapists
A nutrition café
And a team trained in sports science and mental performance
“We already have the talent,” he says. “Now we need the support system.”
If Manish could design the perfect facility, it wouldn’t just be about the equipment. It would be a place where athletes feel supported holistically — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.
A training ecosystem where performance, recovery, mindset, and community coexist — giving every athlete the chance to reach their highest potential.
Changing the Game — One Athlete at a Time
Since stepping into Goa’s football landscape, Manish has seen a tangible shift. Players are investing in strength work. Clubs are open to recovery protocols. Data is informing decisions. And most importantly, the next generation is hungrier, smarter, and more focused.
His ultimate goal?
“To see Goa recognized as a hub for athlete development — where footballers from across India come not just for the love of the game, but for the quality of training and support.”
With professionals like Manish Malik leading the charge, that future feels not just possible — but inevitable.
Sara Tendulkar, daughter of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, is stepping into the wellness and entrepreneurial spotlight with the launch of her very own Pilates studio. Known for her love of health, nutrition, and fitness, Sara announced the exciting news through her Instagram, sharing that the dream she had long nurtured has finally become a reality.
The Pilates studio, scheduled to officially open on August 21, represents more than a business venture. In Sara’s own words, it is “more than just a studio — it’s a community built with care and passion.” Her announcement was accompanied by a heartfelt note and glimpses of the new space, which has already started generating buzz in the wellness and social media circles.
Sara, who holds a degree in nutrition, has consistently used her online presence to inspire healthy living. Whether it’s her personal fitness routines or insights into nutrition, her posts reflect a deep commitment to wellness. The studio is seen as a natural progression for someone who not only practices what she preaches but also connects with a large audience that values authentic health journeys.
Despite being in the limelight due to her family legacy, Sara has carved her own path. Apart from being a registered nutritionist, she also serves as a director at the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, focusing on impactful initiatives in health, education, and sports. This new venture adds another meaningful layer to her work, as she blends her professional expertise with her personal passion.
The Pilates studio is designed to be a welcoming, community-focused space that invites individuals to prioritise their physical and mental well-being. For Sara, it’s not just about movement — it’s about building a place where people can feel seen, supported, and motivated.
With the official launch set for August 21, anticipation is high among her followers and fitness enthusiasts alike. As one of the few celebrity wellness entrepreneurs in the space, Sara Tendulkar’s new venture could become a benchmark for mindful, inclusive fitness in India.
As the wellness world continues to evolve, Sara’s step into the entrepreneurial arena reflects a shift toward passion-driven, purpose-led businesses — and her Pilates studio might just be the beginning of many more initiatives to come.
We live in a time when burnout is worn like a badge of honor and emotional exhaustion has become routine. Productivity is praised, and pushing through is glorified. But slowly, a new understanding is emerging: what got us here won’t get us through what’s next.
We’re not just working more—we’re emotionally sprinting. The pressure to achieve, the chase for perfection, and the noise of social comparison have turned life into a high-stakes marathon. But most of us are running on fumes.
The truth we’re waking up to? Resilience isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about recovering smarter. It’s about equipping ourselves mentally and emotionally for the long haul—with clarity, compassion, and consistency.
Mental Fitness Is the New Resilience
Your mind is not fixed. Thanks to neuroplasticity, you can reshape how you think, feel, and act—at any age. Emotional strength, like physical fitness, is built through training.
Here’s how to build yours:
1. Name Your Emotions
When you label how you feel—“I’m anxious,” “I’m overwhelmed”—you shift from reactivity to reflection. This calms your emotional brain and activates your rational thinking.
2. Respond, Don’t React
Pause before responding. Emotions are signals, not commands. Create space between trigger and action. This is the foundation of emotional mastery.
3. Set Boundaries
Protect your energy. Learn to say no without guilt. Set limits on social media, work hours, and draining conversations.
4. Rethink Stress
Stress isn’t always bad. Reframing it as a message instead of a threat helps you extract meaning and reduce fear.
5. Accept the Uncontrollable
Not everything is within your power—and that’s okay. Focus your energy on what you can influence: your mindset, your actions, your attitude.
6. Rituals Build Resilience
Morning journaling, evening walks, gratitude practice—small habits anchor us during uncertainty. It’s not about intensity; it’s about consistency.
7. Practice Self-Compassion
Be kind to yourself. Emotional fitness doesn’t mean always feeling great—it means supporting yourself when things aren’t.
8. Keep Perspective
No emotion is permanent. Remember: “This too shall pass.” Holding a broader view helps you weather temporary storms.
Resilience Isn’t Stoicism—It’s Adaptability
Suppressing emotions isn’t strength—it’s avoidance. Real resilience is feeling fully and choosing to move forward anyway. It’s reaching out, taking breaks, and resetting when needed.
The Bottom Line
In this emotionally intense era, your mindset is your most valuable asset. The world may not slow down—but you can strengthen your response to it. Because your mind isn’t the victim of your mood. It’s the commander of your calm.
So next time the emotional storm hits, remember: you have the tools to rebuild, rewire, and rise.
