17th September 2024. .
Osteoporosis has become a hot topic recently, and I've been receiving an influx of questions from Harmonise graduates and teacher trainees and also from colleagues seeking guidance about safe exercise options for their classes or 1:1 clients. I also have two current teacher trainees (1 yoga, 1 Pilates) living with an osteoporosis diagnosis and have been contacted by a couple of graduates who who have recently been diagnosed with Osteopenia
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5th August 2024. .
To hinge or not to hinge ... that is the question!
I was recently asked an excellent question by one of the students booked onto our upcoming Pilates teacher training in September. Here's the question (word for word):
“I did Iyengar yoga for a year, and during forward folds, we were always taught to have a straight back and bend from the hips, as opposed to rolling down, as Pilates advises.
I
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27th June 2024. .
In this continuation of our discussion on effective cuing, we'll delve into more advanced strategies to enhance your teaching skills. Building on the basics of language use covered in part 1, I will explore the art of observing and responding to your students, refining your cues, and fostering a deeper mind-body connection. Let's jump straight in ...
Observing and responding in real-time
This really is one of the key aspects of enhanced
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31st May 2024. .
Cuing seems to be a hot topic in the mindful (functional) movement world right now, and with good reason. The cues a teacher uses throughout a class significantly impact how a student experiences, feels, and embodies movement. It’s not just about the cues themselves, but also the tone of delivery and the teacher's expression during a class.
After all, a student’s nervous system responds to the teacher’s nervous system through
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5th January 2024. .
Time and time again I witness the transformative journey of like-minded individuals in our courses, where growth is exponential… and I am in awe. I always reassure individuals who express nervousness or self-criticism with these words: "Give that burden to me – trust the process, trust me, and, by the end of the course, you'll find trust in yourself."
Yoga and Pilates are timeless forms of functional movement suitable for any
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7th November 2023. .
Pelvic health is crucial, especially for women. It is estimated that 50% of women over the age of 50 have some form of a prolapse; and over a third have some form of incontinence.*
Although pelvic health issues are not exclusive to women, factors such as pregnancies, hormonal changes during menopause, aging, medications, posture, stress, and lifestyle choices frequently act as catalysts. Like many chronic health conditions, these issues rarely stem
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10th October 2023. .
When I embarked on planning my recent retreat to the enchanting sacred venue at St Nectan’s Glen, I knew it was going to be extraordinary. Set against the backdrop of a healing waterfall and surrounded by an abundance of nutritious negative ion-charged air, the retreat coincided with a powerful super full moon. It was the start of a new 12 month cycle, a time for release, forgiveness, embracing new beginnings,
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9th September 2023. .
I have noticed a distinctive shift in my energy over the past few days, aligning with the super blue full moon and changing seasons; a time for letting go, turning within and coming home to self. Initially, I planned to work on my book at a friend's place this weekend, however when the time approached, it didn’t feel in my alignment. Instead of frustration, I sat with the realisation that
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11th August 2023. .
I just loved the energy and atmosphere at the recent Brighton Yoga Foundation's 10th Brighton Yoga festival; a gathering of like-minded teachers, entrepreneurs and volunteers came together to create a buzzing charity event.
The festival not only showcased the holistic benefits of yoga and other wellness practices but also told the stories of those whose lives have been transformed by the activities of the BYF. From trauma survivors, addicts
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22nd June 2023. .
Hands up who suffers from summer allergies? Winter sniffles? Or other seasonal, environment or health-related sinus issues? - Breathe easy!
Breath is central to both teaching and participating in an effective Pilates or Yoga class. Everything begins with the breath – including the very first thing we do when we are born into the world – we take an inhalation.
Breath and the nervous system
Inhalation is associated with the sympathetic nervous
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