Weekly Wrap up. Week 20. 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.

NEXT WEEK.

I am off next Thursday to Crete on a teacher training week (me being taught) with the wondeful Michael and Malcolm who I have done quite a lot work with.

I keep talking about my holiday but the fact is it will be wall to wall Pilates (but I think I might sneak off to the beach in the afternoons if I can get away with it!!).

Clare is kindly covering SOME classes but not all so please have a look at the live calendar so that you can plan your week. The week starts with a Bank Holiday so no live classes that day anyway

Clare is having a procedure for her back at the start of the week and absolutely must rest so she will be up at the screen, watching you all very carefully but will not be demonstrating - it's very good for us as teachers to practise teaching without "doing" - it is something I used to include when I was teacher training, to get my students to teach the exercises using only verbal cues and visulisation so you will all work hard at listening and imagining and Clare will work hard at NOT getting on the floor to demonstate - if she does, you can tell tales!!

There are so many new classes in the library for you to access to keep you ticking over. When I was delivering the workshop recently at Limewood, I was absolutely delighted to see how many of you stuck to your routine and took a library class (oh yes.. I get ALL the data,..!!) and I will as always throw in some extra classes along the way so that it pro rata's out.

I shall return fully reinspired and buzzing with more ideas.., or in a heap on the floor. One or the other.

(pssst.... anyone who has recently joined us - make sure you click the drop down arrow at the top of each collection in the library which will open up all the classes in that collection!).

I am with you Monday and Tuesday next week and will then be away, back to teach Monday 2nd June......., JUNE?!!??? How has that happened?

And finally -

Women of yesteryear were told to eat less, stick to cardio and stay small. How wonderful to now live in a time where women's strength and strong bodies are celebrated!

How interesting that people can be terrified of bluetooth, smart speakers, gluten, dairy, carbs, artificial sweeteners, protein powder......yet are these same people quite willing to live with regular alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, takeaway meals, lack of muscle mass or aerobic fitness? Choose your fears wisely.

Have a great weekend everyone xx

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Sitting in Southampton airport and other stuff

By juliet • April 9, 2026

I want to keep it as on point and brief as I can and here are some cold, hard facts. Doing SOMETHING is a lot better than doing NOTHING! Whatever equipment you use and program you follow is far less important than the fact that you show up. Regularly and consistently. Only 30% of adults meet the resistance training guidelines and this drops to as low 10% for older adults. What is required? Training all major muscle groups at least once a week Aiming for 2 - 3 sets per exercises Using a weight that is getting challenging by the end of the set Moving through full range of movement. Now, why this is good news is that this can be acheived in whatever form of exercise takes your fancy and over here on our Pilates mat, we tick a lot of those boxes. Going into the 100 and wishing for the end, sitting tall in your Spine Twist and pushing for JUST ONE MORE rep is meeting this! We go through full range of movement, we use bodyweight as well as small equipment, so even if you are not lifting weights, you are doing your bit. (N.b. provided this is min. 3 times a week and you are pushing yourself to max ability in each of those sessions in one way or another and bringing in bands, small weights etc for additional resistance) WHAT COUNTS BODYWEIGHT EXERCISES AT HOME BANDS, BALLS, BODY WEIGHT, LOOPS A QUICK EXPRESS SET WHEN YOU GET BACK FROM YOUR RUN/WALKING THE DOG 15 MINS IN THE KITCHEN - YOU DON'T NEED TO COMPLICATE IT IT DOESNT NEED TO BE FANCY, STRUCTURED OR ELABORATE. IT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN Generally ALL types of resistance training work, as long as they are performed with high efforts which means that you get to a point where you are almost at failure. In other words, choose what you enjoy as you are more likely to stick to it and work harder at ut. CONSISTENCY IS KEY and the BEST exercise programme to do is the one you enjoy and will be more likely to stick at! MEMBERS. We have multiple classes involving strength and resistance every week. NON MEMBERS - I am just putting dates together for another 4 week strength program. Please email me if you are interested. More details to follow (I am delighted to be starting a 4 week strength training session with my local running club so I really am doing my best to share the love! )

Why runners need to lift weights

By juliet • April 8, 2026

Let's start with Improves balance and coordination Improves bone density Boosts metabolism and weight management Enhances mental health Helps with daily activity A few more?! Improves posture by strengthening your core and back muscles Reduces risk of injury by strengthening joints, ligaments, and tendons Helps regulate blood sugar levels and lowers risk of type 2 diabetes Improves sleep quality and helps you fall asleep faster Enhances athletic performance (speed, power, endurance) Slows down age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) The ACSM (American college of Sports Science) is the bible of the fitness world with regards to fitness and exercise prescription and has recently done a huge survey, publishing it’s findings in a new report which has got the fitness world very excited as it is the first survey of it’s kind since 2009.