New block, latest classes on catch up and a few other bits


Hi everyone. 

As we are coming to the end of this block of classes, I thought I would touch base and just share some info to date. 

 Moving forwards. As you may be aware, at this time there are no guidelines and dates on gyms and studios  (and of course, halls that run fitness classes) opening. I have therefor decided to make a decision rather than just running on indefinitely. I will not be returning to teaching in halls before October at the earliest. I know that this is not what some of you want to hear and I do apologise but until I can be sure to deliver my classes in a safe environment, I am sure you will all agree that it just does not make sense. In addition to that, it is simply not financially viable for me to run classes in a hired venue at 50%. capacity. It might sound forever away but I am taking time off in August and some in September and will review nearer to October. One thing I can confirm is that my online classes are here to stay. Thank you for all the requests and I confirm that our live and catch up classes will continue in addition to face to face. I am looking at a multitude of options - "blended" online with face to face, online only, face to face only, membership options that give you catch up's included, 
The option of working online is undoubtably convenient and allows me to access those of you further afield and abroad so I will be running through all the options and will see what I can offer to give you the best possible service. It does mean that when you go away for a month at a time or find yourself babysitting or caring for a relative in another part of the country, you can maybe swap from face to face to online and so forth so you still have your weekly classes. I feel that it offers a lot of positives. 
When we can, I will be returning to Beaulieu village hall and am currently looking at venues as I intend to also run classes in the Lyndhurst/Ashurst area. 
Having said all that, it has been lovely to see some of you in face to face classes in gardens and while the weather allows, I am really happy to teach small groups in large gardens where the "1m plus" rule can be observed so if you wish to put your own group together then do get in touch and we can discuss times and days. Also, maybe you would like to organise your own bespoke online class with some friends. Perhaps you all went to another class that isn't running or you had a class in your office at work and are missing it. You can get a gang of friends/colleagues and I can run a class online just for you. Again, just pick up the phone and we can discuss. I really do see that we have all learned new ways of working and there are definitely some positives and some newfound convenience. 

New Timetable. I have taken your reqeusts onboard and have also of course been keeping an eye on what classes seems the most popular. The Tuesday 6pm class is currently quite under subsribed so I will not be continuing this in the July block. I will never say never and if the interest is there, I will reinstate later in the year. I am adding a lunchtime "bitesize" class on Monday and Thursday so I really hope that will give an opportuntity to those of you who are working office hours. The classes will be around 35 mins MAX. to give you time to get your lunch and get back to your desk. The Monday 10.30 class has been a bit quieter so I will be making this "The back care class" with balance and mobilty. So whatever your level, the earlier time of 10am on Monday will be all about exercise and movment designed to support and rehab. grumpy backs but including balance.
After this week's introduction to "The 34 Moves", I am going to be running this as a class every Thursday for the July block.
The new timetable will go up on Friday after we have finished the last class of this week. 

Payment - please make payment of £40 for the new block by no later than Friday 2nd July in order to receive the password for the new block. You can either pay online through my webiste or BACS me - Juliet's Pilates (business acct) - acc no 21505734.  sortcode 40-30-36. Please be kind enough to email me if you are paying by BACS and PLEASE email me if your banking name isn't the name I know you by. On receipt of payment, I will send you the password for the new block. Please allow 24 hours for reply. £40 will give you access to 40 live classes and around 24 recorded classes on catchup for July. 

Latest News. Please remember to check "Latest News" on my website for all information on the upcoming week's classes with regards to what we are doing and what we will need. I post every Friday and do my best to offer suggestions of how to substitute so please be prepared with whatever you may need by checking here. It is also an opportunity for you to see what may take your fancy and I am always happy to take requests. PLEASE also double check your class start time which is displayed on the website when you join the class. If for whatever reason, you join late, can you PLEASE check you are on mute. It is really distracting for the rest of us when you join late and we can hear your background noise - runs alongside coming into my hall late and making a big fuss of sorting your bag and your shoes and your mat and we all know how I feel about that.... so a little courtesy please!!! 20 press ups is my usual punishment... 

Recorded classes. I have updated classes today. I have also found a couple of bite sized classes that I recorded about two stones ago, when I had long hair and the Late, Great Jack Russel, Panda the Pilates Wonder dog used to sit on my feet - (do you remember when we were in Moonhills and he used to join in the classes and sit on your mat!).
 I have made these downloadable with no password so available to all. A taster of the short bite size classes I will be offering soon. 
The library is growing so get in touch if you would like to purchase a class.

Health and Safety. Please read the disclaimer and if you have read it, please read it again. It is your responsibility to advise me of any change to your physical health and well being no matter how trivial you may consider it. I am always on the end of the phone for a chat if you would like to ask/check/query and please do always keep me up to speed on any changes to your health and physical well being that may affect your ability to exercise. There are always a multitude of ways to adapt and modify so I can usually inlcude you but will offer you props to use or alternatives. 

So to wrap up.... a very slightly altered timetable which will be posted Friday afternoon, payment by Friday latest (I am not working on the weekends) and plenty of "recordeds" to keep you going. The existing class codes will carry over and I will send out the new class codes on request (Monday 10am, Monday and Thursday lunchtimes) but all the rest will remain the same but will require the new password from Monday. 

Fitness Unites.  As you know, I am delighted to be joining over 20 other presenters to take part in this 2 day fitness event. 25/26 July. For £15 for one day or £25 for both days, you have one code and you can dip in and out and join as many classes as you like with a huge vareity to choose from. Classes include Pilates, Yoga, Bollywood Zumba, Martial Arts, Dance, Barre, HIIT, Stretch and relax, Meditation, Kids Fitness and loads more. If you are on social media please find Fitness Unites and you can see a daily update on each presenter, their experience and what their class will be. I am teaching "Abs Fab Fusion" and really hope to see lots of you there. There really are some amazing teachers and it is a wonderful cause as every penny goes towards The Chicken Shed Theatre Group helping disadvantaged children in the community.  
Please visit.         https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joanna-fernandes


Recorded classes - 

Thank you for your humour, energy, support and company. My lounge is now dedicated to a homemade and somewhat precarious tower made up of kitchen chair, boxes and 5 large books for my laptop to sit high up on, furniture piled into one end of the room, cleared space for my mat and the hoover on constant standby. I don't think I have ever worked so hard and I have to confess that you are not the only ones who sometimes just lie on the mat in a heap.... when I close that class, I am often to be found collapsed on my (newly purchased, colour coordinated and non slip) mat!!! But (n.b. dont start a sentence with but) we are having fun aren't we. You have all made my solitary confinement much easier than it may have been and I treasure and love each and every message from you. Feeling a little emotional as this is the second time I have written this as I lost one hour of work when I randomly hit some random key that randomly wiped all my rambling... I think Bertie learned some new words he may not normally be used to. 

See you soon x 

By juliet May 15, 2025
The sun is out which can only mean TEACH ON THE BEACH! (The picture above is one of the beauties who joined me this week!! ) We have enjoyed a week of classes down on the local beach and have dodged low flying and quite inquisitive seagulls, ponies coming to see what is going on and a very sweet but very annoying lost dog. I mean, I didn't think he was lost - 2 ladies were walking past and he was with them and as he continued to bounce about over us and our mats with his muddy paws, dropping his stick and waiting for us to throw it, I was glaring at the retreating backs of the aforementioned women, thinking how unbelievably irresponsible ... just you WAIT until they return... until someone in the class mentioned that perhaps he wasn't actually their dog and might be lost... which it turns out, was absolutely the case... and two other walkers passed by and said "Ohhhh he's Lara's dog".... and kindly took him with them... I don't think they actually planned to but as I said "oh MARVELLOUS, you know where is from because he has been a total pain" and they were sort of left with no choice. I hope Lara and he are happily reunited and all is well. Anyway, it continues to be an absolute treat to be able to throw a. mat down on the beach and have our classes in such a setting. I will never take it for granted and I just love seeing you walking down the beach to join me so let's hope this weather lasts (with regular overnight rain please - wouldn't that be the perfect solution). Welcome to some new members this week - I have already seen one of you on the beach and look forward to seeing you online too.
By juliet May 8, 2025
So that was a busy weekend. As Lou and Clare were coming to the end of an epic 100km run around the Isle of Wight I was settling in for an early night before taking my bike over to ride the 100km the following day. I have never seen so many bikes - the ferry we were on had only 2 cars and otherwise it was wall to wall bikes with a lot of lycra in the lounges! Bearing in mind people were arriving on ferries from Portsmouth and Southampton as well as Lymington, that was A LOT of cyclists. The group I was in were faster than I would normally ride so it was quite the challenge. When we first sat down in the ferry and I saw one of our group wearing a "Team GBR Triathlete" I felt slightly doomed and to be fair, we were pretty fast straight from the onset.... I could see my 2 little energy bars were not quite going to cut it. This was going to take a lot of gritted teeth and hoping for the best. Very early on, Lou was driving (trying to avoid the thousands of cyclists) and overtook me, so she kindly pulled in and took a little video of us going past (pic above) and it was lovely to see her. Do you KNOW how hilly the island is? They just keep coming.. and you sort of can't really enjoy the downhill as you know it will only be short-lived before you start the climb again. I knew that I would do it. If I put my mind to something I will stick to it despite how much I may overthink and worry but I knew that I would finish it, no matter what. A small achievement to many but the start of something new for me and being in a group, God forbid I held anyone up. It was actually a year to the day... it was last year that I went over to the Island to watch Lou and Clare run 50km (although I did sort of wander off and find our island member Sarah and spent a very happy afternoon in her bluebell wood eating home made chocolate brownie but I was thinking of them) but I really missed being part of the event. After so many years of running, I realised how much I missed the build up and anticipation of an endurance event: the sense of camaraderie and being in something together . It was off the back of that that saw me come home and buy my first proper bike - I mean proper as in all the others have been acquired along the way and have been older and heavier than me. I have snuck off and done a few bits and bobs here and there and of course, had the shock of how much work I have to do to keep up with the clubs I have joined but here we are - one year later and a 100km ride around the island. The Military Road is forever etched in my memory - it was only 20 miles or so from the end and my legs were tired. Somehow for a short while, I found myself out of my group and riding alone and as I tried to ride up this endless hill, cycling slower than a toddler dawdling along, I was literally shouting out loud "WHY do I do this to myself? WHAT is this teaching me about myself?".....but keep peddling I did. You see we are funny creatures - the whole psychology behind a challenge is massive. Once I knew I was into the last few miles, I allowed myself to feel and acknowledge how tired my legs were - until we realised we could make the 5pm ferry at which point I found a new energy and powered on faster and stronger than ever - I was NOT going to miss that ferry! As I say, not a big deal to lots of people who did it and nothing like the achievement of Lou and Clare (I can't even begin to imagine how deep they had to dig) BUT I am chuffed and it is the first step on the ladder. It is all relative isn't it? What is not much to one person is a massive challenge to the next - whatever it is, be it physical or otherwise, to succeed in something that requires courage, discipline and commitment is worth celebrating. We have to dig deep to push out of our comfort zone but when we do, the feeling of achievement is so self rewarding. Sometimes I think we forget to reward ourselves or give recognition for when we have gone outside our comfort zone and achieved something and we deserve to remember - a pat on the back or a mental high five even if it is not shared with anyone else can really boost our mood and if we have tried, we ought to (even very quietly) give ourselves a "well done me!" For me, meeting and chatting to like minded people who are all there for their own reasons. Some built like professional athletes, some not, all doing their best - all encouraging and supporting each other. Mind you, the ones who whizzed by at the end while my legs were falling off, saying things like "nearly there".... not so keen on them to be honest! What next? I think I need to buy a road bike now to start the collection... this could become the new passion..... will I keep going... yes of course I will... I think....
By juliet May 1, 2025
USE IT OR LOSE IT! I saw a post on instagram that I shared today. It is a video of a large family posing for a group photo, with many of them sat on the floor. Once the photo has been taken, they try to get up and that is where chaos happens (along with a lot of laughter) as they are clinging onto eachother, trying to get to their feet and getting into a total heap. Very funny... but also not... I was involved in a workshop today at Limewood and the phrase "Use it or Lose it" came up in the presentation. We all know the saying and can use it quite flippantly but how about acknowledging that if we no longer perform that particular activity, our body thinks it is no longer required and we find we CAN'T perform that movement. We need to condition our body and therefor when we first try a new exercise for example, we can feel quite unstable or uncoordinated and lacking in proprioception but as we repeat and practise, the move becomes more familiar and we grow in confidence and ability. Think of some of the sequences we do in Pilates or some of the more complex moves in our weights work - not for the faint of heart and performed only once we have built up the skills and have the coordination and understanding of what needs to go where. However as we stop doing those (or any other)moves they quickly become harder to reach. If you haven't seen it, do please watch "Secrets of The Blue Zones" on Netflix - about communities where people not only live beyond 100 but do so with good physical and mental health. It is a superb watch but the factors are the same in each community and one of them is of course, exercise, be it walking up a practically vertical hill to church or getting onto hands and knees to tend the garden daily. Whatever you do or don't do, please don't be the one rolling around because you cant get up from the floor!! Using it beyond all reason this weekend however are Lou and Clare - please join me in wishing them the very best of luck as they set off together at 6.45am on Saturday to run 100km around the Isle of Wight. If you recall, they did 50km last year and that achievement set them up for going the full distance this year. It also did something else as I went over to watch them and had a bad case of missing out, as I can no longer run and realised how much I missed the training and camaraderie of an endurance event and it was off the back of this experience that I came home and bought a new bike. So a year (and lots of cycling and joining a club) later, I am also off to the island on Sunday to cycle 100km on the IOW Randonnee. I respect that my challenge is nowhere near the scale of what Lou and Clare are undertaking but there are some big old hills over there... good job we have a Bank Holiday Monday to recover!! 
By juliet April 24, 2025
Blink and you miss it. There went Easter. I hope you all had a lovely time doing whatever you got up to and we now enter the summer term. I mean we don't really have terms but if we did, this is it... exams, summer uniform, netball and cricket and dusting off the bbq's. Personally, none of that really applies to me... well perhaps the summer uniform as I drag my shorts blinking and yawning from the back of the drawer. As for netball - I used to absolutely love it. I was always in the school team, playing Centre or Goal defence and did briefly join Lymington as an adult. When my girls were at prep. school, they reinstated a teachers v parents netball match and we won by a country mile -none of us really knew how but me being me, I went full out to start a mum's netball club one evening a week. Before we knew it, "friends" had mentioned us to the Bournemouth and Southampton leagues. This was very, very scary as we were just running up and down shouting "is that allowed? what are we supposed to do here? did that count?" so clearly in our infancy and anyway, we didn't have any matching kit but we did have a lot of fun - well, until someone went over on her ankle which promptly broke and that was the end of that. I have been spared life as a cricket mum or widow but sitting in a deckchair for hours in the sunshine pretending to watch sounds wonderful to me. As I watch my nephews revving up for the start of GCSE's, I thank my lucky stars those hideous days are behind me. I have a vivid memory of sitting at the kitchen table trying to revise while my mother sat outside in the garden listening to Wimbledon on the radio and the two are forever linked for me. Wimbledon with exams not my mother. Apparantly we have wonderful weather next week so dig out your sunscreen and if you can make it, I will be teaching on the beach for Monday and Tuesday's classes. We went through the 34 Moves recently and the upside down/inversion moves are usually the ones that need the most practise. You can really get a deep dive into these moves on the studio equipment if you ever go to a studio but we have several in our mat work - Roll over, Rolling moves, High bridge, Control balance, High Scissors and Bicycle. Remember that Joseph Pilates' philosophy was to perfect on the studio equipment and practise on the mat, hence we use all sorts of equipment and creativity to recreate as close to the studio work as we can for the vast majority of us who do not have access to a fully equipped studio. Why inversion? Gravity can lead to compression of the spine and their little shock absorbers known as discs that can become dehydrated. When we tip our body upside down, we can reverse the gravitational pull. This can help to create more space between the verterbrae and studies suggest that this allows for the discs' soft tissue to absorb moisture and rehydrate and plump up. Exercises like Roll over or the rolling moves can provide a massage for the spine and fascia as well as improving spinal mobility and of course, abdominal strength. (please note in photo above, my right arm is not perfect - my wrist should be flat and my arms could be stronger and better connected to the floor but it was the best pic I could find for now and I wasn't sharing that space with anyone else so it was a mediocre me or nothing!!!) Want more? Well, it is widely believed that being upside down can stimulate the lymphatic system and help with lymph drainage. Also the action of being upside down can increase blood flow to the stomach and therefor help with digestion and digestive issues. You don't need to be performing an advanced Control Balance move - some of the rolling moves and spinal extension we have been working on do the job in a modified way and anyhow, high blood pressure, glaucoma and spinal issues are some of the reasons why full, advanced inversion is not ideal - there are always ways to adapt, modify and practise safely. What we established in our 8am class yesterday was how many ways we can break down, build up and practise. For example, consider the Roll up, Roll down and Roll over as exactly the same exercise but variations come from the position you start from, how you work against gravity and whether it is your upper or lower body that moves. Thinking about Roll over, and going into the inverted positions (where your hands support you from under your hips), we worked on how to open up the chest, the need for strength through the traps, lats and triceps, length in the hamstrings, strength in the core and so much more. So for example, to improve High Scissors, you could consider side lying chest opener, Roll down with arms behind you, Saw and upper body only double leg kick - all moves to open up the chest and strengthen the upper body. In addition, hamstring and hip flexor stretches. Focus on pelvic floor and deep core connection so lots of abdominal and core strengthening- we could (and do) a whole class on moves to prepare us for one single and seemingly evasive exercise. What we do know is that to get better, we need to practise - a few daily exercises relevant to what you need to build on will make ALL the difference so.... with that in mind, I am going to start planning some workshop style classes again as we haven't done this for a while so your input would be welcomed. What moves really challenge you and what would you like to work on? I will get my creative hat on and build a class around the strength, stretch and mobility we need to focus on. What I continue to hear from you (and feel for myself) is the benefit of building strength from lifting weights and how that really helps with your Pilates progess. Isn't it great!!
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