Welcome to this week’s Newsletter — I hope you have had a good week. My week has been full of getting back into the routine after our week off. I love getting away and having breaks but I also love getting home and routine.

Plus… I don’t care where you go to stay, the shower is never as good as the one at home! 

Anybody else have things at home that they always feel falls short when they go on holiday? There’s often a bed issue, pillows, but it could be drinking from your own mugs, your kettle … it could be an interesting list we draw up, let me know.

All Face-to-Face Classes were back last week, except for Friday’s Old Woodhouse classes with Jane who wasn’t well — a replacement class has already been arranged for Friday 22nd August.  A shout out to all my classes on Mondays and Fridays at Old Woodhouse — I plan to use hand weights in the class for the next few weeks, so if you have a set please bring them with you …. However if you don’t have any, a couple of tins of beans can often do the job. I will also bring a couple of extra sets with me. With regards to the weight, anything from a set of 0.5kg and upwards, although anything above 2kg might be too much. If you have questions let me know.

Online Classes are running as normal, with bonus sessions through June of my Pilates With Weights programme on Sunday mornings, Live in Zoom at 9.30am — I’ve had some lovely feedback from the first class, including this from Jenny:

Morning Jane, I just did your Sunday morning ‘weights in June’ session and wanted to let you know how lovely it was. Great routine with the added resistance to get the heart going! Xx

Many thanks to Jenny for taking time out to send me this … it’s always good to get some feedback as this helps with my planning, so I was very pleased to receive this positive message.

JTP Book Club News

A few recommendations this month for reading as we head into the summer months. I have been reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, and the jury is out for me on this I’m about half way through … it’s different to what I would normally read, so I’m sticking with it. In brief it’s about a group of friends/family cousins who come together every Summer and spend it on an island where their Grandfather lives, and it goes through from when they are younger and as they get older. But in the middle of this, one of the cousins has an accident which affects the relationships, and her own position within the family. It’s an intriguing read. 

Other suggestions:

• How to age disgracefully — Clare Pooley
• Us Three — Ruth Jones
• The Satsuma Complex — Bob Mortimer — this is a bit off the wall but I’m loving listening to it as an audible book
• Lessons in Chemistry — Bonnie Garmus — I loved this — it’s a story about a brilliant, female Chemist who works in a totally male dominated environment and it shows the inequality and discrimination at the time, in the 1960s. I definitely recommend this

Happy reading.

Last week, I shared a little about what it takes to do my job as a Pilates teacher — the planning, the motivation, the energy it takes to give the best of myself. This week, I want to talk more about how it feels to do this job, and why I believe that connection is right at the heart of it — Connection that Counts.

One thing that always stays with me — and maybe it’s something you’ve felt too — is how easy it is to feel unseen in a busy world. To wonder if anyone notices whether you're there or not. To feel like your presence doesn’t make a difference. 

I can remember once, shortly after my son was born, we had various people staying with us and I began to feel pushed out, everyone was making decisions and not asking me for my opinion, so I went and locked myself in the toilet and wondered how long it would take before anyone noticed I wasn’t there! … Anyone recognise this?

Well, let me say this as clearly as I can: you matter. Your presence in a class — whether online or in-person — makes a difference. You are part of something. Your smile, your energy (even if it's a sleepy Monday morning energy!), your commitment — it all counts.

I often say that I want my classes to feel like you're being taught just for you — even in a group. It’s not just a teaching style… it’s my mission. Because being part of the JTP family isn’t about being the bendiest, the strongest, or the most coordinated. It’s about showing up as you, knowing you’ll be met with kindness, encouragement, and yes — connection.

So if you’ve ever felt like you slip through the cracks or go unnoticed, know this: I see you. I'm so glad you're here. And we’re stronger because of it.

I want you to reflect this week on when was the last time you felt truly seen, acknowledged just for being you? If it’s been a while, think how you could offer that same recognition to someone else, or even back to yourself. 

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

With love and support,

Jane xxx