Weekly wrap up. Week 30. 2025.

The world is out there!

I was ready to write about going to see a Shakespeare production in Beaulieu and then KAPOW! The Lionesses worked their magic on Tuesday night and I cannot igore that. How to blend Shakespeare with women's football and why have I picked those topics? hmmm... here goes...

Sunday evening down at Bucklers Hard was a beautiful setting for an amateur production of "Much Ado about Nothing" We sat on the bank with picnics and fold up chairs and enjoyed a really superb play. Everyone was word perfect and it took me back to my school days, learning lines for our school plays. (ME on the stage! I know! Can you believe?!). There is a real knack to not only learning the lines but also when to come in, where to stand and so on. I recall an interview with Dame Judy Dench on losing her eyesight and how she needed to find a new way of learning her lines. Doesn't it go to show that with practise and repetition, we can achieve so much - in this case, hours of dialogue delivered perfectly.

In the Michael Mosley series I mentioned last week, one experiment was for ageing adults to learn 3 new things consecutively for improving cognitive function. It is so easy to write something off as too hard or too much effort, but if we actually want it, we can recondition and learn differently. So when you are trying a new exercise for example (or a new hobby or activity), stick at it.... it just needs repetition and practice, much the same as if you are learning your lines for treading the boards (or grass!). This will help keep our brains working and help with memory and cognitive funcion.

So to the Lionesses... I must admit that I am not that interested in football but this is different- this is women in sport and that is something I am passionate about. Not just that but look what these girls are doing for equality in sport and demanding respect for a job well done. So many young girls will be influenced by believing that anything is possible. So many boys will learn to take girls's sports seriously where perhaps historically it has been considered second rate. They show good sportsmanship, team camaraderie, friendship, hard work and a "never give up" attitude- they are a credit to us all and I so admire what they are achieving. Add to that a wonderful connection across the country, uniting people in a shared excitement.

So whether you are learning lines for a 3 hour play or training for a world class sporting challenge, the fact is that we can all achieve so much if we just stick at it and keep on going and give our precious grey matter a challenge to keep it working.

And... we're off...

The New Forest show is on next week and from the Saturday onwards, I shall not be far from the showground, marching about in my tabard and being terrilby important!

I will see you as usual on Monday and will then be absent until Friday - (Clare will be with you as usual on Wednesday)

Good news - the Friday classes will probably be much easier than usual!

I know several of you are either stewarding or visiting and I hope to see you.

NEW in the Library

This week's roller class and Functional strength are in the library.

What is coming up.

Our September day out on the Isle of Wight is now fully booked! I have had a wonderful response and really look forward to our trip. I will be in touch nearer the time with those who have booked to make plans. (those who have provisionally booked are included.)

Teatime Talks. We are having a break in August nd I will post info on our September guest and I will record and post our August challenge in time for next week.

Crete - if you were interested in Michael and Malcolm's Pilates week next year and I haven't emailed the info to you, please let me know and I will forward.

Have a lovely weekend and if you are watching on Sunday, I will be right there with you!

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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.