Welcome to this week’s Newsletter — and what a challenging start back to classes it has been.

January can feel a little strange, can’t it? And it’s definitely started strangely with us, as some classes have already been disrupted by the weather. 
 

It’s always a difficult decision to make when having to postpone and rearrange classes, specially following a holiday break. We don’t do it lightly — we have to think about venue availability, teacher availability and maintaining the breaks from teaching that are very important, but ultimately it’s about you, the JTP community who attend classes. In adverse weather conditions here in the East Midlands the weather can be so different across the county, so decisions are made based on local news reports, and touching base with people who live in our local villages to see whether or not we feel it is safe for people to travel. I want to reassure everyone, that we intend to rearrange the classes that had to be postponed last week and we will notify everyone asap so you can put it in your diary.

But let’s get back to January! The decorations are down, the year is stretching out in front of us, and suddenly it feels like there’s a lot of noise about what we should be doing, changing or fixing. This week’s Newsletter therefore — and right across our classes — we are pressing pause on all of this noise. In class we will continue to build on foundations — breathing well, moving with intention and reconnecting mind and body in a calm, supportive space. Less about gimmicks, no pressure, no rushing, but the good stuff that helps us feel stronger, steadier and more at home in our bodies. But it isn’t just about the physical self, we want to have these same foundations for our emotional health too, so in Your Whole Self this week this is what I am focusing on.

JTP Book Club

I love comedians, and I am currently reading Jenny Eclair’s memoir Jokes, Jokes, Jokes. Jenny is a bit like Marmite, not everyone’s cup of tea — but I like her, as I do Marmite. She can be a bit ‘potty mouthed’ but that doesn’t offend me, but I know it can others. She is also the same age as me so as she describes certain times, fashions, school and so on it resonates closely with me. Anyway, if you like her or think you’d be interested I can recommend this.

I also have some fiction on the go, and I am still reading things that aren’t too heavy as I feel I want light and fluffy at the moment. So I am reading Happy Place by Emily Henry. It’s about a group of long-term friends getting together in a house where they have shared many times together, but things within this social circle are changing, so it’s also about the affects of this on the group. It’s a good recommendation if you just want an easy read.

Face-to-Face Classes — hopefully the weather will be kinder to us and all Face-to-Face Classes will run this week. We will always message everyone if we have to cancel, so check your phone before you set off for class.

Online Classes will continue to run to the regular timetable. Remember that the Kickstart Xtra class is now mid-week on a Wednesday. 

This week’s Your Whole Self is focusing on building strong foundations, not a new you.

I always feel January has a funny way of turning up very loudly. Lots of programmes on TV, media, social media suddenly telling us to fix ourselves, upgrade ourselves, hustle harder, and emerge as a completely different human by the end of the month. It can feel relentless — and exhausting — before we’ve even packed away the Christmas decorations, and somehow in my case not being able to find a matching pair of socks … what happens in our washing machines with socks? 

The thing is that foundations don’t need to shout. They don’t rush.  But they do quietly support everything that comes next.

I am obviously going to link this to Pilates. When we start Pilates we don’t start with the fanciest exercises or the biggest movements. We begin with alignment, breath, awareness, and connection. Quality over quantity. How you move matters more than how much you do. And we can apply the same ideas beautifully to the rest of life too.

Strong foundations for wellbeing aren’t about doing more — they’re about doing what you already do, with more intention. Taking a moment to breathe before reacting. Noticing how your body feels rather than pushing through it. Choosing movement that leaves you feeling supported instead of depleted.

Emotionally, foundations look like giving yourself permission to be where you are. Not needing to overhaul your whole life in January. Building an inner strength through consistency, kindness, and realistic choices rather than pressure and punishment. We want that quiet resilience — the kind that grows slowly and lasts, and can support us whatever comes our way.

For the mind, it’s about creating space instead of noise. Letting go of the idea that everything needs fixing. Replacing the inner drill sergeant with a gentler voice that says: Let’s build this steadily.

So this January, rather than chasing a new you, consider strengthening the one you already are. Layer by layer. Breath by breath. Choice by choice. Solid foundations don’t just support movement — they support life. And once they’re in place, everything else feels a little more possible.

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

With love and support,

Jane xxx