Weekly wrap up. Week 31. 2025.

Goodbye July - you have been great!

Forgive me a very brief wrap up this week. Currently semi collapsed on the sofa and incapable of speech....

In a week that started with our fantastic Lionessess' epic win, I stepped away from my mat and into a week of show shenanigans.

I always wanted to marry a farmer. I am not sure where I went wrong but a week wrapped up in all things New Forest Show is a joy for me and for the thousands of people involved. There are nearly 500 of us voluntary stewards believe it or not, alongside all the professional teams and participants and that is what makes it the event that it is. I am terribly proud of my Pilates tribe winning in the sheep showing, the cake baking and working hard in various sections of the show.

The days are wrapped up as always with the Heavy Horse Musical Drive. I do not know why but it always makes me cry... ever since I was a tiny girl. I know it is is ridiculous but I also know I am far from alone on this... however, sitting next to my daughter who, as the music started and before the first team had even entered the arena, took one look at my eyes welling up and threw her eyes to the heavens, threatening to move her chair away...I blame my mother. She always recounted how she could remember as a little girl taking a carrot out to the huge horse pullling the milkcart .

The show was forced to its end as the heavens opened, the thunder started and the NF show 2025 was wrapped up and we wave goodbye to a very busy July.

I have missed you this week and look forward to seeing you all but I think I may break August in slowly...

Talking of August, I will be uploading this month's challenge before the end of the weekend.

I'm off with Rosie tomorrow night into the forest near Minstead to join the New Forest Ghost Hunter to recognise 925 years since King William Rufus was killed. He is going to take us on a tour and search for any paranormal activity - apparently the NF is positively awash with goings on!! Look him up at Hauntednewforest.co.uk

We have a busy month of classes coming up and I really look forward to seeing you soon. I am back on my mat as usual from this morning.

Have a lovely weekend,

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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.