Welcome to this week’s JTP Newsletter.

So we are on Week 3 of this month’s focus exercise — Scissors. 

Remember you should always work at the appropriate level for your body and keep away from pain, so there is never any pressure to work at a level that doesn’t feel right for you. 

This week I show another level of progression. Focus on deep stabilising muscles supporting the lower back and pelvic girdle, but also check in with the mid-upper back, and encourage your rib cage to stay in neutral/regular position when performing the exercise. Move from the hips so that you feel the work being done by the front of your thighs, and those hip-flexors. Finally, breathe and enjoy!

Over the last week I have been doing quite a lot of writing for various projects that I am working on at the moment, and have become more aware of the language we use on a daily basis when talking about the things we do, the people we see, the activities we become involved with, and how this language can affect how we feel.

For example ‘I have to fit in the supermarket shop this afternoon…’  gives a feeling of something that has to be done, no choice, and not much time to do it in. However if we change it to ‘I get to do the supermarket shop this afternoon …’  it feels different to me. By changing the word have to get  gives a better feeling about the shopping trip: almost ‘aren’t I lucky, I get to do this’ kind of feeling. It's a small change that can change how we think and feel about doing certain tasks, going into different situations, meeting people, and then with practice it reduces the negativity and develops an improved, more positive outlook. 

Another word which I use a lot when teaching and with myself is try. A harmless little word really, but can be negative and suggest potential failure. Yes you can try, but you probably won’t manage it. So swapping the word try to encourage is more positive — not 'I am going to try to read for at least an hour every day this week', but instead ‘I am going to encourage myself to read for at least an hour every day this week.’  It improves the outlook, relieving the pressure of trying to do something, and gives a more achievable encouragement to succeed. 

You will hear me in class using the word encourage when talking about movement, so I want to encourage you all to encourage yourselves.

Other words which I love are discover, and curious …. discover what it's like to do something, an exercise, paint a picture, take a photograph, bake a cake. Be curious about an author you haven’t read before, a new hobby or activity you haven’t done before, an exercise that is new to you.

Let me set you a task this week. Start to introduce these words into your thoughts and notice if your feelings start to change about certain situations that you normally find intimidating or difficult. It's worth a try isn’t it?  

Have a great week folks, keep moving, looking and feeling good.

With love

Jane xx