Let’s welcome December — with a whiz pop bang … a quote from my granddaughter !

Lots to talk about this week. Firstly, if you are feeling you want a little motivation to get your body moving in preparation for the full-on festive season my Complete Care for Christmas is now available as a one-off programme to purchase for just £6. Six videos, each focusing on a different part of the body, each workout just 30 minutes long, each workout Pilates- based using hand weights. You can buy it here … On thee other hand, if you are already a JTP Zone member then you will find all the workouts free as part of your membership highlighted at the top of the Matwork Classes tab in the members jtp.zone website. 

A Walking Invitation

Usually at this time of year I have always met up with classes for a pre-xmas coffee, but everyone seems very short of time, so it is proving difficult to organise. However, I am inviting you to join me for a pre-xmas walk around the Outwoods in Loughborough on Friday 9 December. We will be meeting up in the Car Park from 10am, for a walk and then for those who have time a coffee after in the cafe. I would love to see you there, and your fluffy friends, if you have one.

This week I am sharing a video I recorded a few years ago, you can tell by my hair, and the decor in our old house … PLUS bonus is you can just hear a bit of The Archers in the background …

The exercise is to work into all areas of the gluteals and hip joint to mobilise and challenge the stability … always listen and work appropriately for your body and don’t push through pain. This exercise can be done on all fours if you are unable to lie on your hip. If you have any questions about any of the Exercises Of The Week that appear in the Newsletter each week, please don’t hesitate to contact me for further advice. 

I know, it’s getting busier and busier isn’t it … have you finished your Christmas shopping, are you all prepared with your food order, do you know where your relatives will be sleeping … do you have a spare room?

The bottom line is can we say No and make the right decisions for ourselves that won’t push us over our limit so we feel overwhelmed, ambushed, fatigued, taken for granted?

Have you watched Two Doors Down? It’s a comedy on BBC2 and basically one of the central characters is Beth, who opens her doors to her neighbours no matter how horrible they are to her and how much they take her hospitality, patience and kindness for granted. She accepts them no matter how openly critical they are of her and her food … and I find myself wanting to shout at the tv and wanting Beth to stand up and say NO …

Potentially we all have a bit of ‘Beth’ in us, accepting comments without reaction, going the extra mile for people who may not always show appreciation, and potentially we say Yes when really we want to say No. So how can we change to give ourselves permission to say no when enough is enough. 

I’ve been listening to Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. In it, he talks about a system he has of Green, Yellow and Red lights that helps him, among other things, to make decisions about things that come up in his life. The system is, when faced with a situation, an event, whatever it may be, we have to make a decision and say either Yes or No. If the event triggers a Red light — it’s a definite No. If it triggers a Yellow light — it’s a maybe, and needs more thought. And if it triggers a Green light, then it’s a definite Yes. 

So if you are already feeling under pressure, overwhelmed, stressed, and you receive more invitations, or continuously being asked to do more, think of the Green, Yellow, Red system. If the invitation triggers a Red … then it’s a definite No. Don’t overthink it — that is your answer. If it triggers Green, then Yes, yes, yes … go for it.

Don’t keep accepting more and more if it doesn’t feel right for you, don’t be put upon, don’t be taken for granted, don’t be a ‘Beth’. 

Have a great week folks.

With love

Jane xxx