What is Shiatsu?
I remember when I was studying Shiatsu and one of the 3rd Years who had just graduated made a leaflet that always made me smile. It asked the same question “What is Shiatsu?” and then said
‘It’s not a dog….’
‘It’s not a kind of Japanese noodle’
‘It’s not a kind of Martial art’
I’ve seen other practitioners do versions of this too. After all, when it can feel so amazing and works on so many levels of our being, how do we start to explain what Shiatsu is?
[Read more…]Orecchiette cooked in chickpea and tomato sauce – Julie Brooks
It’s coming into Summer and although we are loving those warm sun filled days, we are still aware that the weather can easily turn and feel more like winter. Today we are posting about a great warming, tasty, healthy recipe which is one of our favourites. It is an easy healthy pasta dish and is Yotam Ottolenghi’s Orecchiette cooked in chickpea and tomato sauce which was published in the Guardian newspaper last April. In addition to being delicious and simple to make, this recipe also happens to be vegan, which we know is something a number of our clients will appreciate!
[Read more…]What Yoga Has Taught Me – by Jamie Dunleavey
My journey into yoga seemed to happen so quickly! After graduating from Napier University in 2013 with a music degree, needless to say, I suddenly felt pretty lost. Thrown into the world of self-employment, I now had some important choices to make, and many responsibilities I had never known before. It was overwhelming, and I secretly didn’t handle it well at all.
[Read more…]POST NATAL? 3 Tips on understanding when an abdominal exercise is not suitable for you in class.
As a Mum I understand that excitement when you finally manage to attend an exercise class ALL BY YOURSELF. Having one hour to yourself, to actual listen to what the instructor is saying…bliss!
As a postnatal qualified instructor I would like to share with you my three top tips for checking whether an abdominal exercise is unsafe when attending a mainstream class.
It’s important for you to observe and understand what your tummy is supposed to look and feel like when you add weight to it in a certain way.
These tips will help you determine if an abdominal exercise is too difficult for you.
THE FIVE BENEFITS OF BARRE
1. Strength and definition
When you work your thighs in a Barre Class, you target that muscle group from all angles. Three thigh exercises will work to fatigue the front, inner and outer thighs, strengthening the muscles from joint to joint. The same goes for your abs back glutes and arms. Use of your arms in Barre just holding in 2nd or port de bras is an excellent way to strengthen your shoulders as well as your back. You are also strengthening muscles that are often underused and underdeveloped.
[Read more…]3 Simple Pelvic Floor Exercises
EASY PEASY PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES
It has now been 15 months since I had my son and I have been back teaching and working with pregnant ladies and new mums for 6 months. I have adopted a full body approach to improve my own pelvic floor dysfunction and also when assessing clients.
[Read more…]MIND OVER MUSCLES
Are you in control of your movements during your exercise class?
The fundamentals of Pilates, the principles underlying this unique form of movement, teach and train individuals to develop control while exercising. The fundamentals, also known as the principles, are the main components of all Joseph Pilates’ exercises, including mat-based and standing exercises.
There are typically 8 principles included in Pilates’ exercise method, all of them helping to improve the effect of the exercise. Control is one of these principles and indeed, Joseph H. Pilates’ book, written in 1945, is titled ‘Return to Life Through Contrology’. [Read more…]
New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s Resolutions – we make them, we break them, we guilt ourselves about them – but what if this year we made a resolution that we could feel good about and actually keep?
The truth of the matter is that you can make and re-make resolutions at any time – not just in January! For example, I like to establish or re-affirm my intentions in tune with the lunar cycle, which allows me to continually assess what is and isn’t working for me throughout the year. [Read more…]
How to be Mindful While On Holiday
Going on holiday is supposed to melt all your stress away. Unfortunately, the preparations and unpredictability of holidays can sometimes result in the exact opposite. One way to beat this is through the simple concept of mindfulness – being aware of the present moment and just appreciating it for what it is. As deceptively elementary as it sounds, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a scientifically proven method of combating stress in its many forms. Here are some of the easiest ways to apply the principle of mindfulness in your quest to enjoy your hard-earned time off. [Read more…]
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