So my first week off didn’t go quite to plan ... got bogged down with the paperwork that is Risk Assessments and Government guidelines.

 

I did manage to go to the Studio though, and with the help of Jenny we moved things around, measured up and worked out how our small group Reformer classes could work, and do the risk assessment to ensure we have a procedure in place that will make the Studio meet all the requirements.

 

I also visited one of our matwork venues and again, with the help of Traudi, we measured up, walked things through and checked the venue policy and procedures. These are just the first steps and albeit small steps, I do feel like they are moving us forward. We are facing an ever-changing set of requirements, and just as we think we are ticking the boxes, another box appears, or the box changes shape!

 

The funniest things about both of these events, was the challenge Jenny and I faced when putting legs on all of our Reformers ... “Which way do we turn to tighten the screws again???” And me and Traudi with our retractable measuring tapes — one of them not quite being long enough, and the other nearly chopping my finger off as I forgot to lock it in place!!!

 

It’s important to find the funny, and although part of it was a bit of hysterical laughter, at least we were laughing. It made me feel good anyway to be in the company of other people... and just laughing. TRUTH be told I couldn’t be doing this without the support and help from other Coaches, so lots of thanks to all of you ... you know who you are xxx

 

I will keep updating you with the stages we are in and I appreciate that lots of you will be reading about gyms reopening, other classes starting, but as a Fitness/Exercise provider it is really important to me that I feel confident that I am doing everything in my power to make our Studio and our venue matwork classes as safe as possible.

 

Every teacher of exercise is having to make a lot of difficult decisions about returning, and we are all individuals and those decisions have to feel right for us. For example, I don’t want to rush into re-opening and returning only to have to close down again because of something I may have missed. 

 

You can be confident that you will be the first to know when we are ready to return ...

 

This week I am sharing a short routine which is designed to work specifically on the hip and thoracic spine mobility.

 

Our thoracic spine is designed for rotation, however it can often get sticky and tight due to the muscles in the lower back and those muscles that cross into the spine from the hips becoming tight and not functioning. So hip mobility can affect the mid-spine without us even thinking about it.

 

Give this little routine a go, work at the appropriate level for your body and keep away from pain.