Welcome to this week’s Newsletter, and apologies for repeating myself, but where are the weeks going? They are flying past — and this reminds me more and more about living in the moment, not focusing on what has passed or what lies ahead, and being present right here and now. 

This is talked about a lot by various mindset/mindful gurus, wellbeing experts, and life coaches, but it isn’t easy. It needs practise and work on the headspace to stop the internal conversations that take us away from the present, either overthinking what has happened, or worrying about what might happen. 

It's not impossible though, and in Your Whole Self this week I talk about meditation and how this can help.

We are on Week 3 of the Side Bend, so progressing the exercise to use longer levers, and trying different leg positions. Continuing to work on upper body strength, obliques for that added core stability, and the feeling of stretch when you make the shape. 

Work appropriately for your body, keep away from pain and revisit Weeks 1 and 2 if you need to check out the foundations.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to message.

As mentioned above I want to chat about meditation. 

I think most people when thinking about meditation would think about taking a moment, time, to be silent, maybe sitting, or lying down in a peaceful space, surrounded by cushions, scented candles, soft lights, perhaps blankets. Meditation takes practice, much like most things to do with the mind and body, and it takes time … it's not something that we can be brilliant at over night. 

The silent form of meditation works really well for some people, I know lots of members of the JTP family meditate successfully and practise daily. 

If we take the principles of meditation — to relax deeply, calm the mind, stopping the thoughts that fill the brain and potentially cause stress, a mind-body connection that can lead to better physical and emotional wellbeing. We can apply this in different ways depending on what works for each individual.

Not all meditations are silent. They can be guided. Personally, I like guided meditations, with a voice that gives direction on breathing, grounding, and letting go. However, I also find I meditate at other times, sometimes when I am exercising.

If it's switching the brain off and stopping the hundreds of thoughts that fill our minds that you want, then sometimes exercise or movement can achieve the meditational effects we are looking for. I was listening to a boxer who explained that when he was in the training room, working out on the punch bag was the only time he could completely switch off from everything else that was going on in his mind. He found that whatever he was worried about, if he was troubled about decisions to be made, or feeling stressed about anything else, then after an hour on the punch bag he felt lifted and lighter. The combination of the physical exercise and the focus on the technique of punching and moving around the bag allowed him to switch off, and at the end of the session he felt more relaxed, and clearer in his head space.

So let's be curious about meditation and what might work for us. Don’t automatically dismiss the benefits of meditation purely because of any preconceived ideas about what it needs to look like. Meditation can take on many forms — a mindful walk on a sunny day, digging out your paints and losing yourself in some water colours, a Pilates class, a swim, or finding a quiet space while sitting comfortably and focusing on the breath. 

Meditation is aimed at calming the mind, letting go of thoughts, letting go of stresses, leading to a more relaxed, calmer space. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts about meditation, if it works for you, and if so, what you do.

Have a lovely week folks — keep looking, moving and feeling good.

With love

Jane xx