Pilates gives you a strong body but also a focused mind.

This time last year I took part in a Spartan Super Race… and it was super hard. Mamma Mia it was!

For those of you that don’t know what that is (and I didn’t know exactly, until I was there!), it’s a race set over a course, in this case it was 13km of mountainous terrain, and is peppered with obstacles that you have to climb, carry or negotiate yourself through, under or over…and wade through alot of mud.

It was a huge challenge, on so many levels, and I went into it blind.. I thought that Ignorance would be bliss...

I was wrong - Ignorance was foolish

Another thing that was foolish was to buy a pair of super cheap trainers (As I knew there would be mud and they would get ruined, I didnt want to spend too much money) that were also on the small side, and expect them not to rub.

My feet were blistered but it was one of the least painful things that was going on so I kind of didnt notice..

I had not trained and I thank my lucky stars that my husband was so supportive, as was our teammate Andy, and that I have been a practioner of Pilates and Kundalini Yoga for years and years. They all saved my bacon! Also, Andy’s wife Kez was an intricate part of the team as she looked after our children and this an important factor when families embark on adventures. It was a team effort!

The race was not a race for winning but an experience of commitment, teamwork, love, kindness and faith.

The emotions I went through over the course went from excitement and determination, to desperation, regret, hopelessness, shame through to elation, invincibility, strength, pride, inspiration, motivation, love, empathy, compassion and back to desparation, anxiety and fear (I had a near panic attack about 2km from the end and started trembling and crying) and then back to love, comittment, determination, hope and joy.

Boy, it was a roller coaster and I could not have done it without my husband’s love and support and encouragement both physically and emotionally helping through (over and under) the obstacles. Maybe not for everyone but teamwork got me through..

It was an amazing bonding experience for us both and connected us back into each other and our relationship. So often we are busy with life and forget how much we love each other’s spirit and soul so it was a great opportunity to be together and be present on adventure out of our normal environment.

It was like we got to see the real person again, with the curtains of life drawn back - It was raw and real and we loved it.

I believe that having Pilates in my body, being balanced and strong and able to move efficiently with a reinforced core stability got me through physically and emotionally. Pilates helped me with the focus, commitment, the mindset and faith to get me through. Absolutely.

My work teaching Reformer Pilates is fortifying and keeps you strong and capable, not for only Spartan races but for life. We need a strong body and mind so we can get on with our everyday things. We are more resilent and can see the magic of life around us, which makes us happier and more content. We can show up fully and be the best version of ourselves on any given day. You have super powers inside you and do anything when you want to..

There is a beautiful Chinese Proverb “The person who says it cannot be done should not interupt the person doing it”

When you have a metaphorical Spartan Race ahead of you know that the power is inside you and once you make a commitment to yourself and believe in yourself you can do it.

What's your purpose?

Finally a simple answer to a complex question.

I was recently telling a friend that, now I'm birthing my new Pilates Reformer Barcelona project, I have for the first time in years felt more "on purpose" than ever, although I claim I don't know what my life purpose is, if that makes sense?

I've meditated, done exercises, journaled, and the pressure to “find” this purpose has had me feeling quite inadequate for most of my life.

Aaarrghhh “Purpose, why do you STILL elude me?”

I have over the last decade connected back into my heart and body after a lengthy battle with bulimia, and I have since wanted to help others do the same. I enjoy getting my clients strong from the inside out, aligned, balanced and connected in their bodies, hearts and minds with Pilates classes, here in Barcelona, but is it my purpose. I kind of happily fell into it rather than being called and isn’t purpose a calling?

Does my work matter enough? Am I making enough of a difference to people? Do you ever think that?

Now I am fully recovered and am fit and very healthy, emotionally as well as physically, I am passionate about helping people, not only with their bad backs, posture and muscle balance, but in knowing that they are powerful beyond measure, and absolutely enough as they are, and can live life with gusto.

I feel more on purpose than ever now…

I have my Reformers in my little Barcelona studio, classes are getting booked up. There’s more focus and clarity to my work and yes, I do feel joy and, for the first time in ages, a sense of peace that things are falling into place. Hooray!

But am I living my purpose? I feel it should be more obvious. Do you know what I mean?

And then, I found this….

I found it online but I don’t know the source, I’m afraid.

It’s like I’ve been given permission that I’m ok and sometimes I need this external reassurance to provide a reflection. Like I teach my clients we are enough, and we are doing enough. By being, kind, compassionate and everyday, making difference with just a smile.

We are not losing or wasting our time because we aren’t in a profession that is directly saving lives, or finding eco friendly alternatives to plastic. We are on purpose by being a human being travelling our crazy, absurd but glorious lives with spirit and integrity, doing our best in the madness.

Amen! Purpose found..Being a decent, and serving human being.

So as I keep myself going into overwhelm about the new Reformer Pilates classes, starting next Monday (click here for details) and the responsibility to my clients, I feel secure that I am on purpose already… delivering strong cores, stable hips, flexible spines, healthy postures and toned balanced muscles is just part of the the bigger picture we are all part of and it all matters.

Nice!

Since I am launching my new Pilates Reformer Classes this week I have become a little overwhelmed and since that is a state that is familiar to us all below is an exercise I use to help me soothe myself. If you are feeling you need to balance your emotions and help yourself feel secure watch this video from my Limitless Live series..

How do you feel about purpose? There is such a thing? How do you know when you are living it? I’d love to know what your experience. Let me know in the comments below..

Thank you

Love Laura XX

4 Ways To Reset Your Body After Summer

It's September and I always feel so excited this time of year.

New beginnings and promising adventures, more so than at New Year, for me. Remembering the start of a new school term, new shoes, new classes and new possibilities, this time of year still provokes that excitement and positive expectation of all the new things to be discovered and learned.

Its so fresh and exciting

To fully embrace the new season with zest and gusto getting your body reset is key feeling on top of it.

Here are 4 ways that I swear by, that get you going first thing and set you up for lovely autumn days.

DRINK A GLASS OF WATER FIRST THING

It’s been said a million times, and I was trying to think of something more original to say to you, but a large glass of water first thing really is absolutely essential to hydrating you after 6 of 8 hours of sleep. Hydrating the body first thing encourages a consistent blood flow to the skin and flushes toxins from your system. Drinking water just helps prevent kidney stones developing and protects the colon and bladder from infections. It boosts your metabolism, helps create new blood cells and muscle cells which gives your whole body a reviving boost.

Let’s do it - One large glass, first thing - either room temperature, or warm but not from the fridge. You can add a bit of lemon or mint, but the water is the most important.

MOVE YOUR BODY

Doing some form of nurturing exercise or gentle stretching will really set you up for a great day physically and emotionally. I am biased, because Pilates and/or Yoga first thing in the morning is my personal elixir of life, but I would suggest at least 10 minutes to get the blood flowing, wake up your muscles, keep your spine flexible, get your endorphins going and boosting your metabolism. You will never regret it. I have some videos on my youtube channel that might be useful .

Let’s do it -This one for a Pilates for a balanced body might suit you https://youtu.be/LkUOhp6SEB8

If you are in Barcelona and fancy making a commitment to moving your body and getting strong from the inside out, check out my New Reformer Classes

FEEL GRATITUDE

I cannot tell you how much being in a state of gratitude is good for your body, health and wellbeing. It might sound a bit woo woo but the vibration of gratitude is so high that being in this state is shown to have really positive effects on your psychological health and your physical health too. The research shows that people who are grateful and appreciative also recover more quickly. In his formal GRACE study of recovering Heart Attack patients Jeff Huffman finds that as a result of feeling that in-the-moment gratitude for one’s health this had strong associations with health and recovery. Gratitude is prevetative and restorative.

Let’s do it -Write down 10 things each day that you are grateful for. It can be anything, like having a nice cosy bed, the colour of the sky at dawn, your childrens laugh as they leave for school, your two working legs that get you around, living in a peaceful country. There are literally a million things to be grateful for most of us, and paying attention to them will serve us well.

BE PRESENT

Bringing yourself back into the present moment, and not rehashing a story from the past, or a making a prediction about the future is a great way to stay out of anxiety and overwhelm, and give you that reset you need for a new perspective to get you on track for new adventures and projects.

I can really relate to this, as I often get stress and anxiety, worrying about all the demands on my time and obligations I have to fulfill. Being present keeps your stress hormones on an even keel keeping the harmful effects of cortisol and adreneline from wreaking havoc on your health. I find being present helps me get on with my things with more focus and success, and out of procrastination and catastrophising. You can enjoy your life when its actually happening instead waiting for life to happen. It’s a classic but Ekhart Tolle’s The Power Of Now is a really good book on being present and why this is so important for a full and happy life.

Let’s do it -Sit on the floor in easy pose or in a chair and close your eyes. Bring an awareness to your breath. Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds and breathe out for five seconds slowing your breath down to 4 breaths a minute (1 full breath every 15 seconds). You will feel present, calm and like time has slowed a little bit. 1-3 minutes is a good start.

If you are in Barcelona and would like to make a commitment to your physical health have a look to see if my Introductory Offers Interest you? Your body needs to keep up with your life, so it could be the moment?

Put your back every so lovingly into it..

We are only half way through August and I am already thinking ahead to October, when my new Reformer classes will start. Yikkes! There is loads to do and think about and I must admit that I am often forgetting to be present. To be in the Now.

Do you forget to remember the Now?

“Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.”
― Ekhart Tolle: The Power of Now

I have been on holiday open and free, but now I am hunched over my computer in overwhelm and I can already feel my shoulders closing in.

Hunching and rolling our shoulders foward is so habitual for a lot of us.

The more time we spend in front of the computer, tablets and phones and the more we are sitting in the office, or whenever our work entails slumping, the muscles on the upper back weaken. They become elongated, and the muscles on the pectorals become shortened and tightened, pulling us forward so our upper back, if not kept in check, gradually curves over. Also, everyday tension and stress manifests in the back and shoulders, so they travel up to our ears creating a super stressed upper back.

Reformer Pilates Classes can help with this as we strengthen the muscles on our upper back to pull us ever so lovingly back into alignment.

In the meantime, keep the shoulders back and down, head held high, open the chest. Walk tall my friend.... (and get a comfortable handbag)... This helps confidence as well (walking talk, not the handbag haha)

How is your upper back? Do you default to slouch? Do you spend hours in front of the computer? Here is a short video focused on the upper back muscles. Strengthening the muscles on your upper back, and lengthening the muscles in your chest, we can slowly train the spine into more natural curves and so the posture improves.

Go on..put your back into it, and give this little set a whirl for an upright posture..