This week’s Exercise Of The Week is the Side Bend, or Side Lift as it is sometimes known. This specifically aims to work your lateral muscles — so obliques, adductors, latissimus dorsi — basically the muscles of the waist, inner thighs and the muscles under your armpits that feed into the spine.
This exercise is used a lot in our generic classes so it is good to be able to take some time and break it down so that you can practise at a level that suits you and then this gives you confidence within a group class.
I have had time over this last week to reflect and look back on what has happened really since Keith went into hospital on 17th February.
It’s been such a whirlwind of a time, and had we not had the COVID-19 situation I am not sure how I would have managed to keep teaching Pilates classes, or keep the business going. Even with Keith remaining in hospital, the visiting and the time to keep everything running was proving more than a challenge.
I had a lot of support from the JTP team during that time and my son George was starting to help with the administration, without which I wouldn’t have coped. But then we had coronavirus and lockdown which changed everything again.
Keith being discharged early from hospital has meant that I have become a full time carer. Again had it not been for the lockdown and rules of isolation, I am not sure I would have been able to continue to teach.
I recognise now how I wasn’t really aware of the changes we were all being forced into. I think I was just operating in a state of shock with everything that was happening and simply reacting to situations being thrown at me. Many years ago when I worked in Human Resources in the NHS, we used to call this reaction ‘Fire-fighting’. There was nothing proactive, no planning, no preparation, but simply reacting to an event that had already happened. Initially that is what I was doing, I was
reacting to Keith being ill and every day things would change and I would need to change my actions and reactions daily.
Then our classes were closing and again I was reacting to what I had to do: cancel venues, contact clients, talk to the team. There was no time for planning and preparation, I just had to react. I was aware of the need to change things, but it seemed to stop there, and although I was reacting, by getting classes up and running on line, there wasn’t really any solid Action being taken.
What I realise now, is that during this period of immense upheaval, I couldn’t sit on my laurels as that wouldn’t have achieved anything. I have had to push myself, step outside of my comfort zone, and do something I wouldn’t normally have done. I have had to accept the situation and take proper action to make this into a positive, meaningful change. I also realise that since doing this I have started to feel better, the next step is recognition of why I feel better, and then start to
change the things that have been affecting my feelings in a negative way.
I feel like this is just the beginning of changes that will continue to happen in my life, but accepting, building awareness and then taking action is definitely the start of regaining some happiness from what has happened since 17th February.
Keep well everyone. Stay Home, and Stay Safe.
Jane xx
