Welcome to this week’s Newsletter, the first one for May — the merry, merry month!

It certainly has been merry as we have gone into it with the sunshine shining brightly. We did have a mini thunderstorm though — and the rain is needed for the garden — but are we ever satisfied? 🤣

Anyway, I hope you have had a good week. 

We were back with some of our Face-to-Face Classes last week, but as it’s May and there are two Bank Holidays, to say nothing of Polling Day, venues have some tricky availability, so this week we only have classes at Rempstone Village Hall with Jenny. Mary’s and Jane’s classes have a mini-break this week, but all classes are back week beginning 12 May. Check the Online Calendar (link at the bottom of every Newsletter, and the website) for all class details.

Online Classes continue Live as normal this week — except for Saturday Morning Movement on 10 May when there will be a Recorded class.

Heavy Lifting — Advance Notice

Working with Weights will be a new course coming to the online timetable in June. This will be a weekly session using hand weights, and will be progressive. All classes in Working With Weights will be taught Live, but will also be recorded and put into the JTP Zone members class library for 24/7 access. More details to follow in next week’s Newsletter.

JTP Book Club

It’s the first week of May so I am looking at what books you have been reading. I finished The Salt Path (written by Raynor Winn), which was a fabulous read. It had sadness, survival, and love. I found it an inspirational read, and shows what can be achieved through determination to carry on, but also the resilience of two people who found themselves at rock bottom. 

I have now started The Lost Bookshop (written by Evie Woods) recommended by Anna, and so far I am loving it. The female characters are brilliantly written, and Anna did say that because it switches between times — the 1920s and present day — the connections between the central characters are great, and I have to agree. Loving it so far. Have any of you read any of last month’s recommendations? 

Last bit of JTP Book Club news is that I am giving away a copy of Dandelion Yellow by Yvonne Radley (see last week's Newsletter for details) this month to anyone who would like a copy — just reply to this email — but it has to be first come, first served I'm afraid, as I only have the one copy spare.

Week 1 Exercise of the Week in May is all about mobility for the shoulder girdle and upper back — lots of gardening being done of course, so we need to keep them moving freely. 

This is a little sequence that you can do anywhere, anytime but particularly if you have been in the garden, OR you are sitting at a desk on a computer, laptop … OR (like me) if you play the violin!!!

Enjoy this little sequence, but keep away from pain and work appropriately for your body.

Did you ever dance around the May Pole when you were little?

I can’t remember whether or not I did, but I can remember watching George (my son) dance around the May Pole in the village where we lived. It was an annual event for the school — which was also in the village — and my son was thrilled (NOT!) but it was a fabulous event for the village. Everyone coming together, and it feeling like a call for joy. 

When May arrives it feels like a moment to shake off the last of Winter’s sluggishness, and dancing, flowers, ribbons and sunshine are all layers of optimism and feeling alive. It may feel quite child-like, but dancing around the May Pole, barefoot on dewy grass, and tossing away grown-up worries and letting the wind carry them away like blossom petals on the trees, certainly sounds wonderful, letting joy lead the way.

So I thought this week I would give you a mini May Day ritual to give you a little moment of magic:

1. Step outside – just for five minutes. Let the air touch your skin, feel the earth under your feet
2. Pick a flower (or imagine one!) – and place it somewhere you’ll see it today
3. Do one thing – just for the joy of it. No outcome needed. No productivity points. Just pleasure.

And let’s follow this up with a May Day mantra:

I am allowed to feel good

I welcome joy into my movement and into my day

Say it to yourself like a toast — and bonus points if you are holding a mug of something lovely when you say it. 

So, from my heart to yours — Happy May Day lovely JTP family. Let today be light, a little silly, and full of things that make you smile from the inside out.

Now… go dance around that May Pole (or at least do a wiggly spine stretch in its honour).

With springtime sparkles and a big breath in.

With love 
Jane x