Weekly Wrap up, Week 38.

Charging cows, Flower farms and wedding Pilates

I was charged by a cow out on the forest this week. She was totally in the right and I was unwittingly, in the wrong. Her calf was laid down deep in the heather and I hadn’t seen it and as I wandered past with Bertie, she dropped her head and charged.

As Bertie is rather slow and unstable, she was heading at him and I had to jump up and down and scream and wave my arms which slowed her down, until dear Bertie wobbled out of the way. Quite a scare and made worse was a report in last week’s Lymington Times about someone who had been charged by a cow earlier in the year and had subsequently died of their injuries.

After all the crazy things I have got up to during my life, I would have been FURIOUS if that had been my time up.

We take a lot for granted don’t we? I have walked in the forest my whole life, and avoiding charging cows has never really featured but it will now.

What do you take for granted that perhaps needs a bit more appreciation and attention? Health and wellbeing is a typical example. I have often quoted the saying “Choose to make time for your wellness, otherwise you will be forced to make time for your illness” but it is SO true. How often do we put off doing something that is good for us because we are too busy? Something I have had to really work on but Wednesday was a very welcome break from the norm.

A large group of us took the ferry over to the IOW and spent a wonderful day with fellow online member and flower farmer extrordinaire Sarah (Clamerkind). We had great coffee, delicious home cooked lunch, painting, Pilates, walking, lots of flowers and home in time for tea. It was such a relaxing day and we all had such a great time, that we are hoping Sarah will let us come back in the Spring when the woods are full of bluebells. Thank you very much Sarah for a really lovely day.

Teatime Talks.

I have been overwhelmed with the generosity of industry experts giving their time and knowledge to share with us, starting way back when with our very own online member Dr. Sam Anthony talking about skin cancer and staying sun safe, followed by many other really brilliant presenters. I have an amazing guest speaker for our LAST Teatime Talk of 2025. Please make sure you have Wednesday October 8th in your diary and join me online as I host my Pilates mentor Michael King. Please head to Teatime Talks on my website for all the info. Online members, the link is in your live calendar and non members, please email for the zoom link. It is going to be one heck of a talk - it will certainly ruffle some feathers so you don’t want to miss it!!

Mentioning Dr Sam, as part of her "permission to pause" for doctors, she is running a gorgeous retreat day that I am a part of next Saturday, at The Arches in Lymington. Think Yoga, Pilates, breath work, reiki and a day of wellness and relaxation. I am really looking forward to being involved.

Talking special days, I have a first coming up. I have taught Pilates classes at quite a few hen parties over the years but how about this? A bride has approached me to teach an early morning class for her and her bridal party on the day of her wedding at Pylewell! Isn't that a lovely thing to do and I am so honoured to be able to share in a small way, in her very special day. It isn't for a few weeks, but I will let you know all about it!

Our “Introduction to weights” classes are going really well and I have been thrilled with the feedback - keep up the good work and don’t forget the next 2 classes are on WEDNESDAYS. I am planning to run this on for another block so well done all!

Check out the new content in the library this week- back to basics, fitbands and light weights, Friday's strenght is abs with weights and soft ball, Friday's stretch and mobilise with soft ball -something, I hope for everyone and of course, the new weights class from Tuesday evening.

Have a lovely weekend everyone and see you on Monday,

< Older Post

Newer Post >

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.