Weekly Wrap up, Week 35.

Carfest, My new BFF Rev Coles, Sir Chris Hoy and migraines.

I was delighted to be invited back this year to be a (very, very small) part of Carfest once again and arrived in my camper van shortly after lunchtime on Friday, as the festival was already in full swing. I had opted for the exhibitors’ camp site on the assumption that as it was for those working at and performing in, it might be quieter at night.

I was terribly pleased with myself to locate a really good spot, squeezed in amongst tents, motorhomes and every variation of, up front and close to the entrance gate. Clever me - right by the security hut and front of field near the gates, vastly reducing my commute. Hadn’t noticed the humming generators and how often the blooooeeep of the security radios sounded but no-one has everything.

I set up and set off, meeting a friend or 2 and finding the lie of the land. However by mid afternoon, a "lurking in the background" headache was reaching a crescendo and I staggered back to my van around 5pm in the full throes of what I assume was a migraine. I couldn’t even face getting changed, and just crawled, fully clothed under my duvet, hearing the occasional strains of Travis and The Boomtown Rats as the night progressed and I was only too aware of how much I was missing. Sadly not humming generators and lots of bloooooeeeeps.

I slept on and off and didn’t surface until midday the following day… by which time it was apparent that my clever parking choice was anything but.

By 7.45am on Saturday, the queues were starting to form for the entrance gate. Right in front of my van. 7.45am? The gates don’t open until 9. What is WRONG with people?

The excitable chatter and laughter of hundreds and hundreds of queuing people grew, no doubt with eager anticipation of things to do and places to be. Had I been firing on all cylinders, with things to do and places to be, I too would no doubt have been joining that ever growing queue with chatter of my own but as it was, I was holding my head in my hands, hidden under the duvet and wondering if it could get any worse.

Yes, it could….as The Rock choir joined somewhere along the line and decided to rehearse at full volume…over and over…and over… if I ever again hear “Sweet child of mine” in 4 part harmony I may kill those responsible. But then… Oh but then, a brass band. A BRASS BAND? WHO BOOOKED A BLOODY BRASS BAND? Did they rehearse and lead the waiting masses into song? YES, OF COURSE THEY DID.

I was sort of a bit in tears and a bit laughing hysterically at the madness of it as I was hiding, with a pillow pulled around my head, feet away from “When the Saints go marching in” in full Oompah Oompah splendour.

I was due to meet a friend and I tried to cancel to spare her, but she very kindly advised that she was on her way, bringing Migraleve, tea and sympathy and would look after me which she duly did and the day was somewhat salvaged. I was so grateful to see her as I wobbled over, I nearly cried and just sort of hung off her a bit, very grateful for the support.

I always feel the name Carfest is somewhat misleading as the event has grown in so many ways. For my part, it sometimes feels like a parallel universe. One moment we are listening to Sir Bob Geldof sitting on the hay bales with Lee Mack and Rob Brydon, telling us back stage gossip from Live Aid (and a story of how as a teenager, he snatched a coffee cup out of Mick Jagger’s hand, and still has that cup to this day - when he told Sir Mick over breakfast some 40 years later, Mick asked if he would like the bacon and eggs to go with it), and the next minute I am having a chat with Mr Motivator who is still as fit and strong as ever. I shook hands with one of the guys from SAS Who dares wins (who was clearly staying in character no matter what - maybe that is his character…. ) and listened to a wonderful interview with author Cecila Aherne and the fabulous Ryan Turbridy.

One of the perks of being involved (in my own, very, very minuscule way) is being given a pass into The Green Room which sits by the Author’s stage and Starfest. A spacious fenced off area with complimentary tea and coffee, lunchtime sandwiches and more importantly, comfy chairs and clean toilets. There was I, sitting with a cup of tea and a cheese and pickle triangle when the Rev. Richard Coles sat down with me and started chatting. He thought he knew me and when I didn’t respond in a “yes I know you” appropriate manner, was sweet enough to introduce himself, clearly thinking that, with my mouth full of sandwich and my humble “Juliet’s Pilates” T shirt, I had forgotten him. “Yes, I know exactly who you are” I replied, “but I don’t think I am who you think!”

Anyway, gentleman that he is, he joined me for a cuppa and we had a lovely chat for a good 45 mins or so. He told me all about the passion for “cosy crime” lit. and we were able to chat at length as I agreed how my daughters and I have loved tv like Death in Paradise and so forth as we do like a nice friendly murder but apparantly this is now less popular (surely not?) and how he was looking at writing a ghost story.

Ghost stories you say? Well! You can imagine my delight - I was only too eager to furnish him with all the details of my upcoming members” ghost hunting event and I am sure he would have loved to know more except his “person” came to collect him and pop him into a golf buggy and whisk him the 15 yards around the back to the author’s stage.

Serendipity - I hadn’t intended listening to his talk as it clashed with something else but having enjoyed our chat so much, I walked (leisurely and on my own 2 feet) the 15 yards to the stage. I managed to wriggle my way to almost the front and felt sure he would be delighted to see me there, should he need some eye contact from time to time.

I am so pleased I did. His talk was superb - hilarious, entertaining, charming… and with lots of gossip. He took us from his sex and drugs and rocknroll days of being in the Communards (he and Jimmy Sommerville live reasonably close to each other and are still in touch) through his calling to the church and on to greater celebrity status. Of Strictly, he was telling us all about the fake tan addiction and a wonderful story - the Arch Deacon of Harrogate (I think?!) Summoned him for an informal chat over a couple of matters. While sitting outside a coffee shop having a natter together, they noticed a very tanned young lady walk past. “Looks like she has just got back from somewhere lovely” commented the Arch Deacon to be corrected by The Rev - “No, No, Arch Deacon. I think you will find that is Venetian Double dark!”.

We were treated to lots of behind the scenes gossip on I’m a celebrity and how they are smuggled into camp, what it is really like living in front of 80 cameras, with hidden mics capturing every single word 24 hours and day and so on. One thing that interested Richard in particular was the role of the Continuity manager. He was fascinated and wanted to know more - the fact is that this is a juggernaut of a show that has to go out live every day and nothing can stop that from happening. “So” he asked… “What would be the greatest continuity challenge?” To which he was told that was strictly confidential. “Oh go on” he encouraged, “do tell”…. “Well” she replied,” you are a vicar so I guess I can trust you but this mustn’t go ANY further”… so the biggest risk? Is…wait for this… That one camp mate kills another!!

Fortunately Richard asked the question we all wanted to - “So have you ever considered that to be a real risk?” To which the answer was “3 words. Lady Colin Campbell”.

He wrapped up with stories of the current filming of his book headed onto our screens very soon and the fact that he chose for the vicar to have 2 daschunds. As Exec. Producer, he is on set and fully involved. He delighted in telling us of how totally chaotic and wilful these dogs have been in filming to the extent that the producer, on one particularly exasperating day said “Why, o WHY did you have to have EFFIN Daschunds? Why couldn’t you have Labradors like normal vicars?”.

He was followed by a speaker no migraine would have kept me from. I have always loved sporting autobiographies, fascinated by the behind the scenes life and what it really takes. This one however, was a bit different. Having of course, admired him for decades, I have only now had the chance to read more about Sir Chris Hoy in his recent book.

I remember out walking the dogs a year or so ago, early in the morning listening to him being interviewed by Chris Evans on his breakfast show and being blown away by his courage and how he was using his devastating diagnosis to help tens of thousands, if not more by raising awareness of Prostate cancer that sadly for him, was diagnosed only after it had spread and become incurable.

The crowd waiting for him was the biggest I have ever seen there - bigger even than for Tim Peake a couple of years ago and the roar from the audience as he walked on stage made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I didn’t know what I expected, ( I had tissues at the ready) but what we got was humour, uplifting stories, Olympic tales and gossip, and a really positive experience. Several people stood up to share stories of either themselves or knowing someone who had been diagnosed early because of how much awareness he had brought to Prostate cancer checking and how easy it is to look up online.

All this was presented with a positive spin - with dignity, humility and care and I felt privileged to have been able to see him. It goes to show that it is not just staggering physical strength and amazing cardio vascular fitness that makes you a world class athlete. It is a an indestructible self belief and a mental courage that takes you past those not as emotionally capable.

One fascinating fact he shared - did you know that Sir Chris Hoy (6 Olympic Golds) shares his birthday with Sir Steve Redgrave (5 Olympic Golds), Sir Mo Farah (4 Olympic Golds) and Sir Jason Kenny (a whopping 7 Olympic Golds) so if you were born on March 23rd, you may well be destined for great things!

Having missed two nights of music and shenanigans, I was determined to last long enough to see Madness close the show. They featured in the backdrop of my teenage years and “It must be Love” is my all time favourite song, ever - in fact, if I go before you, please make sure it is played at my funeral. That and “I wanna go out Dancing” by Kylie!

They didn’t disappoint and there was much nostalgia from us old people in the crowd singing along but there is (dare I say?) something a bit odd about men in their 60’s and beyond singing about baggy trousers, school days and driving in their car but they are Madness. They were superb (as were Lightning Seeds and Squeeze!).

I met lovely people who came over to The Studio in Spa fest where us fitness and wellness people were doing our thing and it is lovely to catch up with fellow teachers from previous years.

I believe there was some car racing or something. Can’t tell you much about that to be honest.

Obviously parking right at the front of the park on the way in means you are right at the back for going home time behind thousands and thousands and thousands of cars weaving their way out onto little back country roads. Not to worry - caught up on The Archers and the Archers podcast on BBC sounds! From Madness to Ambridge.

And next year, it all moves to Silverstone. Not quite as convenient but we will see.

I think I was still riding high as we headed to what was possibly our last Teach on the Beach of 2025 on Bank Holiday Monday and what a wrap!

We had 18 mats on the beach, a fantastically busy online turnout, a NF pony that went full submersion and had a lovely and very long swim and the geese once again doing their interval training overhead, in preparation for their upcoming mammoth endurance event while the sun shone down.

Unfortunately, whatever my headache started as has progressed so apologies for lying low on the teaching front but I gather something unpleasant is doing the rounds and 3 of you have messaged to say you are laid out too - fingers crossed it passes swiftly.

I won't be down for long...

We hit the ground hard on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH.

I have lots of plans for the Autumn. I am bringing a “Beginner’s guide to lifting weights” week of extra classes, recording new class content for the All level’s Pilates collection, more bite sized classes for the Snack bar not to mention our Isle of Wight day out and our exclusive Members’ New Forest Ghost tour (more details to follow).

DONT FORGET! Wednesday 10th September Teatime Talk. If you don't make this one, do you even really DO Pilates?!

Lastly and by no means least, I am always DELIGHTED to welcome new members. Having been to visit our fellow members in Kefalonia, London, the Isle of Wight, Bath, and the French Dordogne region, you can only begin to imagine my excitement as our latest member joins us from the Italian Alps….

(Pssst.. we need to sort Spain too?!)

More of all that next week but for now, I am signing off and wish you a happy last few days of the Summer - looking at the sky, we may finally be spared dragging buckets of water from kitchen tap to wilting flower beds.

Until next week,

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Communication! What do you mean and how do you say that online?

By juliet • May 21, 2026

Spiritual awakenings, waggy tails and it's all done in the best possible taste!

Be your own world champion!

By juliet • May 14, 2026

Last weekend was a recognition of some huge achievements. On Friday I, like millions, watched the BBC concert to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. What an incredible man who has done so much for our planet and all it’s inhabitants. I found it hugely moving and reminisced about all the years his familiar voice boomed out of our TV screen as my own children grew up watching his documentaries. Of course me being me, I was instantly drawn to how many times he stood up… sat down… stood back up… I also later saw video footage of him arriving in the car outside The Royal Albert Hall and alighting from it totally unaided and just like during the concert, standing up and siting down with control and balance. My goodness me, if ever there was a lesson right there to never just let your brain turn to mush! While some are in such a rush to retire, he is a superb example of how beneficial it is to have a passion, to keep your mind and body active, to find something you love and to commit to it. Wasn’t it great to see that little clip of him, days away from celebrating 100 years, still working, recording the new Blue Planet! Despite his global fame and unparalleled success, he remains still so humble, so gentle and respectful. We could all benefit from being a bit more David. Onto Badminton Horse trials and to see the remarkable Ros Canter (as people have cracked the Romeo jokes to me all my life, how she must cope, I can’t imagine) winning Badminton and going on to to make history with Lordships Graffalo as the first same rider /horse partnership to win Badminton together 3 times. Not only that but she had a baby just 12 weeks ago!! To be so composed and deliver such stimulating interviews before she had even taken her riding hat off with her baby coo’ing on her hip and young daughter wrapped around her leg… what dedication to her sport. Keeping it real, she had to dash off just before her dressage test to express milk as her boobs were too big. Love it! Then the BAFTA’s on Sunday and while Adolescence predictably swept the boards, it was Martin Lewis’ speech on receiving a special award that moved me. He spoke of how he found out he had been nominated 42 years to the day after his mother had died when he was 12, and I quote “For six years, barring school, I barely left the house, and now I am picking up a BAFTA” He then spoke bravely and a little tearfully to tell whoever was watching that yes, you can turn your life around, you can fight your demons and find your way back (and being the brilliant human that he is, he finished his speech on the primetime platform he had, to bash the chancellor over student fees). How brave and what a strong message. Another big character devoting himself to sharing his passion and educating others. Earlier last week, Rachel Entrekin made history by beating both men and women to win the Cocodona ultra marathon in Arizona. "What is that" you might well ask! Well, recognised as one of the world’s toughest ultras, it is 253 miles long including numerous elevations and desert. She tells of surviving on mashed potatoes (easy to swallow, don’t waste energy on chewing) and 19 minutes’ sleep over 56 hours. What an unbelievable achievement - to keep pushing when everything in your body is screaming at you to stop. The power of the mind over the body. However, was it not put into perspective if, like me, you happened to watch The Antiques Roadshow, presenting on Sunday at Bletchley park, based around artefacts and memories from WW2. What exceptional men and women who performed acts of unimaginable courage and selflessness. Their stories deserve to be heard over and over again. Simple, everyday folk who found themselves in uniform, fighting for their country. Can we even begin to imagine? We can’t all break world records or win awards. We can’t all expect stratospheric careers and global success. However, we can all change our lives and impact those around us, in even the smallest ways. I think if we look back and reflect on experiences we have survived, we can ALL think of challenges and situations we thought we could never get through, times that seemed never ending, pain that seemed too much to bear. Yet here we are. We are all warriors. We are all world champions in our own lives. It can be easy to overlook our achievements but helpful to reflect sometimes in order to see how brilliant we all are. Maybe you had the courage to leave a job or friendship or even a marriage that made you unhappy. Maybe you finally took up that activity or started that project you had always put off as you were scared of failing. Maybe you just finally learned to say no sometimes. All big wins in their own right and all worthy of celebrating, even quietly and privately. I was determined to clear and organise the chaos that is my garage. Stored furniture, xmas decs I don’t want any more: you know how it is. As a bit of a control freak, this disorganised clutter was constantly chipping away at my OCD brain. RIGHT! A couple of Fridays ago, I marched over, opened the door, looked at the enormous job in front of me, shut the door and went back to the house, totally overwhelmed. Instead I lay on the sofa, stuck on my audio book and gave myself the afternoon off with a note to self - it's Friday. You need to stop! Fast forward to last weekend and having got a few other ducks in a row, I opened that door again and worked my way through, selling some things on eBay, doing a tip run, stacking and sorting. I was SO ridiculously pleased with myself. Will it benefit anyone or make any difference in the world? No, of course not but I had achieved something that showed me how important it is to listen to myself. I recognised that on the other Friday, choosing to postpone it was the right thing to do rather than seeing it as a cop out and that giving myself space and time to come back to it was the better option. Just a little win, but a win nonetheless. I didn't win Badminton or get a lifetime achievement award, but I know how many of you will feel my joy! It is a tough old world out there and to steal a well used quote “comparison is the thief of joy”. If you find yourself “falling short”, perhaps take a moment to consider who you are measuring yourself against - is it a fair and reasonable comparison? Are you taking into account what you have already ticked off and achieved in your day. My goodness! this is something I have had to work SO hard at; am I falling short? Could I have done more? and learning to say to myself “what you did today was enough’. I find the following a really useful tool - if you find yourself tutting over what you haven’t done or getting upset over not matching up where you think you fall short, take a moment to focus on what today, you HAVE done. It may not be ground breaking but acknowledge, recognise and reward yourself for what you HAVE achieved, even if you just got dressed and faced the world. Sometimes, that is enough. A brilliant piece of advice I was given was this - talk to yourself the same way you would talk to your best friend. If they are having a wobble, a moment of insecurity or self doubt you would instantly jump in to lift them up, point out their strengths and successes, show them what they have done well so why not to yourself? Learn to be your own best friend. No-one wants to revisit that terrible experience or that dreadful pain or that life changing loss but sometimes it is useful to reflect on that time and remember how strong you were, how you DID get through it, how you ARE still here and that is part of what makes you amazing. Jay Shetty says in his book Think like a monk, “Be the person you would want to be in a relationship with”. Maybe that means pulling your socks up. Maybe that means recognising how wonderful you are! I'll leave that with you. Wrapping up, this week I received an email following last week's blog from a friend and fellow teacher who I worked with a few years ago and I share - "Hi Juliet!. A good article about Pilates and running......I have now run over 50,000 miles and recently put in a 31 minute 5k at age 80. I hold my Club's record for running (& finishing before the cut-off) their annual 10 mile cross country championship 54 years apart (1969 & 2023). My brother has replacement hips and my sister replacement knees - neither run nor do Pilates....." I think we are all warriors deep down. We just sometimes need to remind ourselves! If you are still unsure about joining us online and would like to see more of what we get up to, here is a link to a 30 min pure mat mixed ability class. Have a look and always come back to me with your comments and questions. For just £45 a month , you can access 7 live classes (in a typical week) plus access to a huge library plus me on the end of the phone or FaceTime to discuss any areas where you may want more support plus the invitation to request specific classes plus social events and get togethers.

So, you ran the London Marathon.... what next?

By juliet • May 7, 2026

In the words of Holly Willoughby, "first of all, "how are YOU?".

The Zanzibar Yoga Festival

By juliet • April 28, 2026

Members news. Week upcoming : Bank Holiday Monday - class running as usual and this coming Wednesday, 2 x 30 min classes. Details in library. As I am away a few days here and there in May/June, I will continue to put in extra classes now and then to keep everyone topped up. It's all about give and take! Following on from requests this week, upcoming we have a Roll over/Control Balance workshop (Thursday 8am), Back care (Thursday 9am) and Body Conditioning, sculpt and tone style (Wed 8am). All updates will always be in your live calendar. We welcome 4 new members this week and can't wait to see you on the screen! We can now add Portugal to our community! That means that currently, we are beaming into the UK from Cornwall to Yorkshire, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Germany and now Portugal! We are so much more than Pilates and our community continues to support in so many ways. While a couple of our treasured members are going through some hefty challenges, I am so pleased that you use our online connection as a form of support and to use the friendship of your fellow members. Don't forget you can log in 15 mins early for a natter before class and on Thursdays, I will leave the meeting open after we finish the 9.45am class for anyone to stay on and have a chat. Grab a coffee and log back in even if you weren't in the class. If you would like to join our "Friends of JP's" what's app group , let me know - we are slowly growing and it is a friendly place for a chat and check in, (and a grumble about how tough the class was!). Have a lovely weekend, Jx

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.