The November Challenge

It didn't get off to a great start! Bearing mind that my Nomember challenge is based largely on support, motivation, care for eachother... I set out into the breach at the weekend, fighting my through rain coming down in sheets and howling wind for Bertie's walk. I thought that if I took the chuckit and a couple of tennis balls, I could tire him out quickly and get back to my cosy sofa. I had 90,000 acres of New Forest to choose for my walk. NINETY.... THOUSAND...ACRES.. After a few throws and much galloping in the mud (him not me), I went for my grand finale. I raised my right arm, extending it way behind me and with all my might, executed a pretty impressive serve, launching the tennins ball in a high arc of some considerable speed and power.... right into the side of the helmet of a cyclist who had just ridden across our path some distance ahead. Unfortunately when I get nervous, I often get the giggles so as the cyclist dismounted to look back at his assailant, he saw me waving the offending weapon while laughing my head off. As he rode off he gave a little wave and said something like "have a lovely day, toodleoo". To be fair, the rain was so heavy that visiblity was limited so I cannot confirm beyond all reasonable doubt that it was a wave and as I was wearing headphones under a furry hood zipped up to my chin, listening to Graham Norton interviewing Julie Andrews I can also not promise that he wished me a good day but I like to think that was the exchange that took place.
The November Challenge
Watch out for my first post on Sunday! Instagram, FB and right here every day of November.
We have some truly amzing prizes and all you have to is commit to taking some time every day just for you. Remember, you can trade up so if you don't fancy doing that day's challenge you can swap to a previously posted one and by learning to prioritise some time just for you, you also get the chance to win from the list below. Don't forget to share, copy, hashtag, send photos, videos and tick off your chart to be in for a chance to win from the following....

Class info for next week. Block 7. Week 2. Nov 2 - 6

Monday -Im on holiday (working on the challenge) - no live classes but plenty in the library

Tuesday - still on holiday (still working on the challenge)

Thursday 8am. Just mat. Focus on lower body - legs, bums, tums but obviously that is not very Pilates so I will call it lower body workout.

9.15 Back to basics. EVERYONE needs to do this. A refresher on the principles, fundamentals and technique. Just mat but as always have your towel and block handy.

Friday. 8am. Circuits. Hand weights (two tins of soup), soft ball and towel.

9.15am. Just mat but always have your usual props. A lovely wrap up to the week with stretch, mobility and relaxation. Interactive.

Please drop me a line/give me a ring if you have any queries regarding equipment and how to substitute.

Don't forget to turn your clock back for an extra hour in bed, have a great weekend and see you next week xx

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So, you ran the London Marathon.... what next?

By juliet • May 7, 2026

In the words of Holly Willoughby, "first of all, "how are YOU?".

The Zanzibar Yoga Festival

By juliet • April 28, 2026

Members news. Week upcoming : Bank Holiday Monday - class running as usual and this coming Wednesday, 2 x 30 min classes. Details in library. As I am away a few days here and there in May/June, I will continue to put in extra classes now and then to keep everyone topped up. It's all about give and take! Following on from requests this week, upcoming we have a Roll over/Control Balance workshop (Thursday 8am), Back care (Thursday 9am) and Body Conditioning, sculpt and tone style (Wed 8am). All updates will always be in your live calendar. We welcome 4 new members this week and can't wait to see you on the screen! We can now add Portugal to our community! That means that currently, we are beaming into the UK from Cornwall to Yorkshire, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Germany and now Portugal! We are so much more than Pilates and our community continues to support in so many ways. While a couple of our treasured members are going through some hefty challenges, I am so pleased that you use our online connection as a form of support and to use the friendship of your fellow members. Don't forget you can log in 15 mins early for a natter before class and on Thursdays, I will leave the meeting open after we finish the 9.45am class for anyone to stay on and have a chat. Grab a coffee and log back in even if you weren't in the class. If you would like to join our "Friends of JP's" what's app group , let me know - we are slowly growing and it is a friendly place for a chat and check in, (and a grumble about how tough the class was!). Have a lovely weekend, Jx

Sitting in Southampton airport and other stuff

By juliet • April 9, 2026

I want to keep it as on point and brief as I can and here are some cold, hard facts. Doing SOMETHING is a lot better than doing NOTHING! Whatever equipment you use and program you follow is far less important than the fact that you show up. Regularly and consistently. Only 30% of adults meet the resistance training guidelines and this drops to as low 10% for older adults. What is required? Training all major muscle groups at least once a week Aiming for 2 - 3 sets per exercises Using a weight that is getting challenging by the end of the set Moving through full range of movement. Now, why this is good news is that this can be acheived in whatever form of exercise takes your fancy and over here on our Pilates mat, we tick a lot of those boxes. Going into the 100 and wishing for the end, sitting tall in your Spine Twist and pushing for JUST ONE MORE rep is meeting this! We go through full range of movement, we use bodyweight as well as small equipment, so even if you are not lifting weights, you are doing your bit. (N.b. provided this is min. 3 times a week and you are pushing yourself to max ability in each of those sessions in one way or another and bringing in bands, small weights etc for additional resistance) WHAT COUNTS BODYWEIGHT EXERCISES AT HOME BANDS, BALLS, BODY WEIGHT, LOOPS A QUICK EXPRESS SET WHEN YOU GET BACK FROM YOUR RUN/WALKING THE DOG 15 MINS IN THE KITCHEN - YOU DON'T NEED TO COMPLICATE IT IT DOESNT NEED TO BE FANCY, STRUCTURED OR ELABORATE. IT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN Generally ALL types of resistance training work, as long as they are performed with high efforts which means that you get to a point where you are almost at failure. In other words, choose what you enjoy as you are more likely to stick to it and work harder at ut. CONSISTENCY IS KEY and the BEST exercise programme to do is the one you enjoy and will be more likely to stick at! MEMBERS. We have multiple classes involving strength and resistance every week. NON MEMBERS - I am just putting dates together for another 4 week strength program. Please email me if you are interested. More details to follow (I am delighted to be starting a 4 week strength training session with my local running club so I really am doing my best to share the love! )

Why runners need to lift weights

By juliet • April 8, 2026

Let's start with Improves balance and coordination Improves bone density Boosts metabolism and weight management Enhances mental health Helps with daily activity A few more?! Improves posture by strengthening your core and back muscles Reduces risk of injury by strengthening joints, ligaments, and tendons Helps regulate blood sugar levels and lowers risk of type 2 diabetes Improves sleep quality and helps you fall asleep faster Enhances athletic performance (speed, power, endurance) Slows down age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) The ACSM (American college of Sports Science) is the bible of the fitness world with regards to fitness and exercise prescription and has recently done a huge survey, publishing it’s findings in a new report which has got the fitness world very excited as it is the first survey of it’s kind since 2009.