Welcome to this week’s Newsletter … and as I write this on the first day of my holiday from teaching, the weather hasn’t been too bad, but it has just started raining!!!  Ah well … 😳 

But the weather isn’t really the big story of the week is it? The General Election happened and now it’s time for change, and I’ve been thinking about the use of this word, and it sent me on a little brainstorm about how I feel about change — more in Your Whole Self below.

We are in Week 2 of our Summer Timetable of Face-to-Face Classes… see here for our Calendar, which includes a listing of all Face-to-Face Classes, in all venues over the Summer Break. Face-to-Face Classes running this week are in Rosebery Street Medical Centre, Loughborough on Wednesday, and Rempstone Village Hall on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Remember, your Monthly Payment for Face-to-Face Classes includes a total of four Summer Timetabled classes over the months of July and August. There are actually classes each week spread around all our venues, so if you can’t get to one of your own four official Summer Timetabled classes, you only have to use the online Catchups System here to register that, and book into another class for your Summer Catchup class. Failing that, remember that you have access to all online classes — Live and Recorded via the members’ jtp.zone website.

Online Classes this week are Recordings while Jane is taking a Summer break. Live classes will return the following week, on Friday 19th July. 

As I am talking about change in this week’s Newsletter, I decided to make a small change to the Exercise of the Week slot, so I have done a short video about knee supports.  

I have recently been looking into knee supports for exercises which involve weight-bearing into the knees, and we have been trying them out in the face-to-face classes. In general some people have found them very helpful — and I would say that if you have arthritis/osteoarthritis in the knees and don’t like to kneel for too long then they will definitely help this and help you to perform these exercises in class. 

Some of you have already bought your own set because you have tried them in class and like them. So here is the video telling you a little bit more, and I should add that I have used YogaMad knee supports, but there are lots of different ones to choose from when you do a search. I hope you find this useful.

Do you like change?

The word change has a lot of implications — nothing to do with politics. Some people don’t like change; they feel uncomfortable with it, they like the status quo and change can bring a whole lot of fear for some of us.

However, some people thrive on change and what it can lead to. It can be exciting, it can move things forward, it can lead to greater creativity, and improvement.

So where do you sit with change? I think if you are feeling a bit fed up, a bit down, lacking in energy, physically and mentally, you feel a bit flat, then it's time to introduce some changes into your life. Now this can be frightening because we can get set in our ways, we get used to a regular routine, and we take comfort from keeping things the same. But if we want to change how we are feeling, we need to change something. 

It doesn’t have to be major. It can be as simple as changing the space you take when attending a class, because you know how much we love the same spot every week. Instead of going to the same Greek island on holiday, why not do some research into different places. Imagine how exciting that would be. If you are having a takeaway, instead of the usual Chicken Korma, check out something different (just not too spicy different!), OR if you feel cross with yourself because you have been having too many takeaways, then change it and find a healthier alternative.

The thing is that trying something different or changing things could be the lift that is needed to make a difference in how we are feeling or thinking. It can be the boost that is needed  that can give some clarity, make us feel lighter, brighter, excited — the point being that just sometimes stepping out of the comfort zone of our life is what is required.

If you have been feeling a bit flat and down, why not look at what you are doing day-to-day, and what small changes you need to make or want to make in order to lift you out of the ‘funk’ you find yourself in. I love a list, so start with a list — 10 things you have enjoyed over the last 3 months, 10 things you haven’t enjoyed, then look at the 10 things you haven’t enjoyed and see if these are responsible for your cloud, and what you can do to change it and get yourself out of the clouds and back to the blue skies above.

Make that change … you can do it, and you never know it might not be as scary as you think.

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

With love
Jane xx