As I type this, I am listening to The Rolling Stones on the radio, singing about "hands off, jealous lover".... I mean Mick must be... what? 115? Does it never get any easier? Are you still managing jealous lovers at that age?
I remember thinking when I was listening to Kylie singing "badam badam" about wanting her lover to take her home and undress her. Kylie and I are the same age (I know. HUGE pressure on her, poor love) and thinking good grief Kylie - settle down. Have a nice cup of tea and pop on a box set. Never mind all that nonsense...
The tennis is over, the football is finished and I have to admit to feeling a bit lost… and just like that, it’s the start of the Commonwealth Games and all is well again. Watching the opening ceremony, I couldn’t help thinking that if Camilla leaned any further away from Andy Burnham, she would be sitting in Charles’ lap. I wish I could lip read - I imagine she was voicing her displeasure at the seating plan to Charles on her other side. There was quite a bit of talking behind her hand, inspired perhaps by the doubles matches of the previous week.
At least it’s better than that buffoon in the States on Sunday night, photobombing the Spaniards as they lifted the trophy. I was sent a wonderful clip where he claimed, and I quote " we know that our Fifa was 4 times better than anyone else's.... no, I am being told it's 5 times. The Fifa we ran is FIVE times better than ever before"..... (The FIFA!!!!) - he literally is clueless. Maybe while Lineker should perhaps have stayed away from politics and focused on sport, Trump could consider the reverse.
My main take away from the World Cup however, observing how some managed loss compared to others, is to consider that when life throws you a challenge, be more Norway and A LOT less Argentina!
Apologies to those who are not as sports obsessed. We move on...
If I ask you to think about balance, what comes to mind?
Do you think about whether you can stand on one leg, or do you lean more towards the attitude that a bottle of wine and a takeaway is fine as an occasional treat. Maybe your first go to on balance is to think about factoring in time for exercise, rest, relaxation and fun in an otherwise busy and hectic life.
All the above are relevant and it really is about finding balance in life that helps us feel we are achieving and feeling fulfilled without overwhelm.
As we head into the season of long school holidays, day trips and village fetes, disrupted routines and endless days, heatwaves and too many bbq's, I thought balance was something to discuss, in it's many forms.
Balance is something we work on in almost every Pilates class, but it's about so much more than standing on one leg. As we get older, our balance naturally starts to decline. Our muscles lose strength, our reactions become a little slower, and the systems that help us know where we are in space become less efficient. It's one of the main reasons that confidence can begin to disappear. We become more cautious, avoid uneven ground, stop trying new things, or find ourselves reaching for furniture as we move around the house. The wonderful thing is that balance can be trained. Every time we practise controlled standing exercises, weight transfers or simply learn to stabilise ourselves with good posture, we're reminding our body how capable it still is.
One of the things I love about Pilates is that we don't just challenge balance by standing still. We improve it by developing strength, coordination and control. When we learn movement sequences, we use opposite arms and legs together or move slowly with precision, we're asking the brain and body to communicate more effectively. Those pathways become stronger with practice. Working slowly is important too, because it removes momentum and asks the right muscles to do the work. The result is better quality movement, quicker reactions and greater confidence in everyday tasks, whether that's walking the dog, climbing stairs, carrying shopping or simply turning around without feeling unsteady.
Perhaps the biggest lesson Pilates teaches us is that balance isn't only physical. Life is rarely perfectly balanced, but finding moments of steadiness makes all the difference. Just as we learn to pause, breathe and regain our centre when we wobble in class, we can do exactly the same in everyday life. We don't have to rush through everything. Sometimes slowing down, taking a breath and reconnecting with ourselves is what helps us move forwards with confidence. Building balance in our bodies often helps us build balance in our lives too—and that may be one of the greatest gifts Pilates has to offer.
That idea of balance extends far beyond our Pilates mat. We often talk about living a healthy lifestyle, but true health isn't about perfection or obsession. It's about finding a balance that you can enjoy and sustain. It's making time to move your body because it feels good, choosing nourishing food most of the time while still enjoying a meal out or a slice of cake without guilt, and recognising that rest is just as valuable as exercise. When we stop chasing "all or nothing" and instead aim for consistency, life feels lighter and healthier. Just as in Pilates, we might wobble from time to time, but finding our centre again is what really matters. That's the kind of balance that supports us for years to come.
Bringing it back to our classes, maybe take some time over three next few days to consider what the next 6 weeks looks like for you and how best you can keep ticking over on the exercise commitment. I definitely think a total break is great here and there, just as long as it doesn't go too far. Maybe swap up a class for some walking or swimming. Maybe leave the weights for a week and practise some more stretching and mobility. If you know it will be impossible to factor in a full session, prepare in advance for what you can do in its place so that you just keep ticking over. Running around on the beach, long walks with visiting friends and family, swimming on holiday - they all count and could be a very welcome break from time on the mat and organised exercise. Maybe a little tick each day in your calendar that you do something that requires your heart rate to increase and or creates some resistance, so that over a couple of weeks, you can make sure you haven't let it all slide away - I know I keep beating the drum but
IT'S EASIER TO MAINTAIN THAN TO START AGAIN!
With this in mind, I have added a huge number of new classes to the library - pick something the night before that will fit into your schedule and have your mat and equipment ready so that you can get it done without having to think about it, While your life possibly gets busier, always make time for you and what your body needs.
Whatever you take away from this, never give up working on balance, both physical and otherwise.
