I hope you have had a good week, taking moments in the October sunshine — which as I write this I am looking at blue skies and bright sunshine — but also dodging the rain!
 

This week I am sharing a balance and hip mobility combination.

Did you know that our balance starts to deteriorate from about the age of 35? So it is vital that we do build some balance challenge into our day. Standing on one leg while cleaning our teeth, is one way of doing it, we all clean our teeth every day so its pretty easy to do some balance work while we are doing it, creating a good habit. In our movement we are constantly balancing as we move from one leg to another, so start today and build confidence and strength throughout the mind and body with balance. This sequence also includes some lovely mobility for the spine and hips, so enjoy. 

As with every Exercise Of The Week, work appropriately for your body, keep away from pain, and if you have any questions just get in touch.

It is a well known fact that nature makes us feel good. The smallest of things can make a difference to how we feel. For me, I can be sitting reading or working and — as I look out into my garden — I have a view of our bird table and seeing the birds visit and eat and refresh at the table never fails to bring a smile to my face. 

Apparently, we are all born with something called biophilia. Bio means life, and philia means friendship and affinity, and the full translation means love of life. (Information taken from Walk Yourself Happy by Julia Bradbury.) 

There is a lot of reading around this subject and in summary our attraction to nature lies in the historical means of it for our lives. For example when flowers blossom  it would have meant fruit was coming so we could eat, and this would result in pleasure. (Biologist Edward O. Wilson writes about it).

Other research has shown that humans respond to fractals found in nature as never ending patterns, such as we see in clouds, seashells, tree trunks, even in our vegetables such as broccoli. Fractals are processed through our eyes and can reduce stress levels — think back to when we lived in caves and the drawings on the walls of the cave would be reflecting fractals. 

So you see we need a regular dose of what Julia Bradbury calls Vitamin N (ie, nature). 

I know that if I haven’t been able to get outside for a walk or a bike ride it affects my mood — just ask Keith — and I am so much better in everything I do if I am getting my daily dose of nature.