Bounceback

As I have matured, I have realized that what I once believed to be what strength was all about has really changed.
Today I want functional fitness and strength.
Mobility.
Balance.
Endurance for simple daily activities.
Simple ease and efficiency of movement.
But.....I also want a strong brain. And movement not only is medicine.
Movement is information. Information from your body to your brain of how you are moving, feeling physically, balance....
So movement is not only about the physical. It is equally about your brain because exercise also keeps the neurons firing. And in turn keeps your brain fit and functional....

For 22 years I have taught Pilates. How I teach and how I feel about my body now has changed.

At my age, I want mobility. Good posture. Better breathing. Body awareness. Good balance. Energy. Confidence.

I want to be able to move well and feel good in my body for a very long time to come.

And I know I am not alone in that.

If you are at a stage of life where your relationship with your body and exercise is changing too, I'd love to hear from you.

DM me STRONG AND ALIGNED.

Sitting on my stoep, enjoying my view and thinking of my blessings....amazing pilates clients, beautiful spaces to teach from, curious and beautiful farm animals....life in Botrivier - the centre of the universe - is magic.

Our bodies are made up of a series of systems all of which are dependant on each other. Our digestive system won't be optimal if our endocrine system is under par and vice versa.
Same with our respiratory system. If our breathing is fast and shallow, our digestion is sluggish. And so on and so on.
The Vagus nerve is king pin of the parasympathetic nervous system - our rest and digest system. Our breath impacts this nerve and in turn the release of hormones required for the myriad of functions in our bodies. The release of GLP-1 is stimulated by the Vagus nerve, blood sugar levels are impacted in turn.
Breathe slow, relax and be mindful at meal times. Increased cortisol levels from chronic stress will impair GLP-1 release.
Our emotional state at mealtimes is as important as what we consume in living a healthy life.

Simply practicing Breath Awareness is a powerful technique for bringing calm to your system. Notice - how are you breathing right now?....

Our posture and mood are closely linked. When we feel insecure, unconfident or anxious we close up physically and tr to shrink into our body's.

When we are confident and proud, we naturally open up and stand taller. A great book is Amy Cuddy's Power Postures. Worth a look at.

But in the meantime, be aware of your shoulders and when the tension settles in them and the jaw clenches. Just the awareness is enough to begin shifting things.

And remember....the breath is also affected by the posture. Try breathing deep with hunched shoulders.....not easy is it? Soften them and feel the breath deepen.

"One conscious breath in and out is meditation" Ticht Nhat Hanh...

You don't have a sleep problem, you have a state problem. Most of us are trying to fall asleep with a body that is still on high alert. We have full, fast days and then expect our systems to suddenly soften as soon as our head hits the pillow. But the body doesn't work like that. Breath is the transition it needs as a signal that it is safe to let go. 'tsleep