I managed to dodge the downpours last Sunday and along with the company of 3 dogs, went to watch my nephews playing rugby. I have always enjoyed being on the touchline and during their school careers, never missed a single match of either of my daughters. I vividly remember walking past a rugby match the year my eldest went up to senior school and being so grateful that I had daughters as the boys were smashing into each ohther with St John's ambulances on the sidelines... totally inappropriate and hypocritical of course as both I and offspring have had our own share of A&E sporting related dramas over the years.

It reminded me of the time I went to watch a school hockey tournament.  My daughter was goalie and I was used to seeing her kitted out like a Ninja Mutant Hero turtle, hidden somewhere behind several layers of padding. On this occasion, it was a big tournament over several pitches and I was cheering and supporting the goalie for a good 10 minutes before a man walked over and said "excuse me - but that's my daughter"... I looked him up and down and as he didn't look remotely familiar, decided it was safe to assume we didnt share her and slunk off to the next pitch where the one that belonged to me was just staring at me and to be fair, despite full face helmet and the rest, managed a quiet shake of her head and eye roll.. yup... the same mother who hadn't recognised the PM in Cornwall.

My point being that things are not always as they seem. What we assume can sometimes turn out to very different and it pays to keep an open mind. I have worked with  people over the years who are very much cardio/endurance focused and who have approached Pilates with some hesitation (much as I did when I first started), only to be staggered at how hard they worked (just as I did!!). Likewise those who insist that "they will be rubbish/not fit/cant do it" and have surprised and delighted themselves at what they have achieved. It is not always as it seems and sometimes keeping an open mind helps us to gain so much more.

I think it is fair to say that we are all guilty of expecting more of ourselves than is sometimes reasonable and possibly overlooking what we have actually accomplished. Let's talk exercise. If you are the high intensity type of fan, then you may very well surprise yourself with how hard you are challenged by doing something like Pilates that takes you slower and deeper than some of the cardio work. Maybe your energy levels are running low and you opt instead for some breath practise or meditation - this is totally the right thing to do. Either which way, despite your training plan or fitness expectations, skipping the odd session and substituting with something slower, quieter and more gentle will almost certainly give you more gain.

It is not dissimilar to our social life - sometimes we feel like painting the town red, sometimes we are looking forward to a lively dinner party and sometimes (most of the time in my case) we opt for a quiet night in on the sofa. It has taken me YEARS to realise that it is ok to say no thank you, Im staying home without feeling "I should/ought/must do".... If I don't go out and do that thing, I am missing out, I am being boring, I am letting someone down, I am letting me down, I am not making an effort... yet by choosing what might appear to be the boring/lazy/cop out option, I am actually achieving so much more. Learning to listen to our inner voice, and learning to be honest with ourselves is a very powerful lesson. Sometimes doing less is to achieve so much more. It may not appear to be what we need but then things are not always as they seem!

A couple of years ago, I searched for other Juliet Nicholas's on instagram and started following my namesake who is a horticulturist. For the next six months, I had a shock every time I saw a post of plants and flowers on "my" page, thinking "what ON EARTH is that doing there??".... things are not always as they seem!!

Here endeth the lesson!