As I sit to write this week's Newsletter I am looking out of my kitchen window, and watching the bird box which has a Blue Tit family… 

At the moment I am seeing just one bird going backwards and forwards whether it is delivering food to the one sitting on the eggs, OR have the eggs hatched and are they now being fed. To all those bird experts out there, is it too early for the babies? Feel quite excited as I remember doing this with my Dad as we always had bird boxes in our garden when I was growing up, so it brings back lots of lovely memories. The sun is out and the sky is blue so real signs of Spring … at last!

This is the last week of Face-to-Face Classes before we take a break for Easter, and remember if you are going to miss a class and you haven’t booked a Catchup yet, you will be able to carry it over to the next block. Just check for spaces on the online Catchup System (link below as usual).

Online Classes continue as normal this week, and I will be back on Tuesday evening to take an in-depth look at one specific Joseph Pilates exercise — this week it is Rolling Like A Ball. I don’t often teach this in a generic class because it carries a few contraindications, but it's good to take a look at the purpose and benefits of this dynamic movement. I hope you will be able to join me. Find the timetable for Online Classes on the members jtp.zone website.

This week I am sharing a Mermaid Stretch. This isn’t strictly a Pilates exercise but we do use them in class to give a stretch following work and contraction of the lateral muscles, but also they give a lovely transition from one position to the next which helps with the flow of the class. 

The position for a Mermaid Stretch can also be quite challenging, so when you practise this check out how it feels for the whole body and remember to lengthen when stretching. Work at a level appropriate for your body and keep away from pain.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the online recordings. I’ve been suffering with acute sciatica/back pain since going for a long walk over uneven ground at New Year. Your classes have definitely helped and after visiting an osteopath recently the exercises he prescribed I was already doing with you! So please keep doing what you’re doing!   H

I love to hear from the JTP Family how the Pilates classes are helping with various physical and mental issues that most of us face at different times and I really appreciate hearing and receiving messages from you.

Since beginning in the fitness industry, 30 years ago this year, I have seen and worked with literally 1000s of people. I feel I have learnt so much in that time and have been very lucky to work with some brilliant professionals who have taught me so much. My Pilates journey started with Michael King (of the Pilates Institute), but we all know that learning doesn’t simply begin and end, its an ongoing story so over the years I have learnt from — Rachel Holmes, Cherry Baker, Mary Thornton, Alan Herdman, Kathy Corey, Rachel Frances Thomson — to name just a few, to whom I am totally grateful for their generosity with their knowledge and experience. But I also learn from fellow teachers — Jeni Ferguson and Philippa Botterill — who I am also lucky to call my friends, and of course my fantastic JTP teachers. I do feel grateful to all of these people, so when I receive good feedback I always think and refer what I have learnt back to the people who have helped me reach this point. 

When someone shows their gratitude to me, I will always pass it on, because who we are, what we are, how we are, is always a result of others who we have spent time with, learnt and developed with, and who we have in our life. 

The learning continues daily as I work with you all, so thank you for being there and doing your Pilates with JTP.