I hope you have had a good week and you are now enjoying your Bank Holiday weekend. 

It has been a busy week as we get organised and prepped for the new term of classes that will start from week beginning 5 September. 

Some new class times

Please Note: There are a few changes to some class start times for the new term as we head into the new block of classes, as follows (changed times in red):

Monday Quorn Village — 9.30am and 10.30am

Wednesday Rosebery Street Medical Centre — 9.30am and 10.30am

Wednesday Rosebery Street Medical Centre — 6.00pm and 7.00pm

Thursday at Rempstone Village Hall — 6.00pm and 7.00pm

Friday at Rempstone Village Hall — 9.30am

Friday at Old Woodhouse Community Hall — 9.30am and 10.30am

Please make a note of these times as you head back into class in the new term — week beginning 5 September.

Talking of new class times, my Monday class at Quorn starting at 10.30am is now fully booked — thank you to all who have enrolled — I can’t wait to see you all in class on the 5th.

Absolute Beginners Course

Starting 14 September is a fantastic 5-week Absolute Beginners Face-to-Face Course, aimed at anyone who hasn't done Pilates before, or for those who have done some in the past but feel they need some brushing up on correct techniques. More information and booking here. Following the Course you will be able to join us in regular face-to-face or online classes going forward. It is simply the best way to bring Pilates properly into your life. There are just a few spaces left in what will be the last opportunity for Absolute Beginners to join us for Pilates this year.

Pilates, Mindset, and Mindful Retreat

There is just a single space remaining in my Pilates, Mindset, and Mindful Retreat, on Saturday 17 September. More information and booking here. This is such a great Retreat — a rerun of my very successful one earlier this year — and I can't wait to introduce everyone to some really great techniques. 

This week I am sharing two exercises that can be done to work on the deep stabilising muscles that surround the lower back.

When we stabilise the movement at the joint and the flexibility improves as we start to use the correct muscles to create the movement we want, rather than compensate with others. 

Practice these two movements and your core stability will improve very quickly.

Both exercises are demonstrated at a low level. I want to encourage you to work at a level that achieves the best goals for you, without pain.

Do you focus too much on what you can’t do, or what you aren’t…? 

Well I am setting you a little Bank Holiday task. 

I want you to make a list… Headed:

I AM…

I will start you off with a few of mine… 

I am:

• A female
• A mother
• A sister
• A friend
• A grandma
• Self-employed
• A bit bossy… Keith might say — A lot bossy
• A mammal
• A great hugger — specially now we are allowed in certain circumstances
• A good driver
• A Pilates teacher
• A lover of dance
• A good singer
• A 60's baby
• A bit of a nosey neighbour
• A violin player

Now it's your turn. The list is obviously endless. The point being, I want you to recognise and celebrate everything you are. 

I can’t take full credit for this list, its something that Dawn French uses in her book: Me. You. a Diary which I love to dip into every now and then. I think this is a simple but effective exercise we can all do for ourselves. Keep your list, pin it up in a prominent place that you will see every day, and add to it. 

Next time you find yourself thinking about something you haven’t done or in some way you feel you aren’t matching up to expectations… take a look at your list and remind yourself of how absolutely BRILLIANT you are.

Have a great week,

Lots of love

Jane x