MOTHERING SUNDAY this weekend and are you racking your brains wondering how you can treat your Mum?
There are plenty of courses to choose from, personal training or my dvd. Order and we will get it out to you or sign you onto one of the courses.
Trying to find the work/life balance for most mums is stressful and a mum frets daily about her children whatever their age.
Stress levels build up, I see this often with mum’s and believe it is hugely important to take care of yourself as then you can look after others far easier.
Many mum’s don’t (guilty before you all shout!) take time out for themselves frequently enough. Cortisol, the stress hormone rises and wreaks havoc on the body and shows negative effects such as:
-increased stomach fats
-suppressed thyroid function
-increase of blood pressure
-decreased bone density
-Higher levels of LDL (loads of dirty lard tip to remember)bad Cholesterol
-Lower immunity and inflammatory responses in the body creating slow healing and lingering infections.
If you want to choose an exercise class to bring your mum to, both of you reap rewards and build on your relationship and fitness then treat her to a Yoga class together ( Yes boys I mean you too). This year has started with much more family fitness, mums and daughters coming to groups. Don’t miss out on the chance to try Yoga with your parents or children.
Lets make it a family affair !
I have seen a huge rise in the need for more holistic exercise programs over the last couple of years and Yoga is right on trend due to higher stress levels.(It has recently been reported that today’s level of anxiety is equivalent to what was considered clinical in the 1950’s.) These exercise prescriptions are hugely beneficial in reducing stress and encouraging mental and physical healing.
Training the small group Yoga programs at my Yoga studio feels like I am wrapping a blanket around clients for an hour. Its a real nurturing, feel good experience and the feedback from participants is ‘the tonic thats needed”.There are some very serious face Yoga classes out there but I can’t say the same for mine!
Its never too late to reap the benefits of Yoga.
I found Yoga in my late thirties and as an avid weight trainer and runner to get my fitness kicks, a niggle in the hip during marathon training led me to seek Yoga.
First session in and I over stretched my knee.Realising that applying an aggressive attitude to Yoga does not work!
I struggled on through the relaxation feeling tempted to say I had to rush off for a meeting. Then after a month of sessions something clicked. The hip improved and I could see I had over the years become imbalanced ( yes I can hear some saying you know that!) and that the Yoga was really starting to help those areas.
Benefits of Yoga
It works for all age groups pregnancy, babies upwards till death.
Each small group class can be structured to enhancing health benefits.
Over the six weeks we have worked at:
Improving thyroid function.
Relieving stress and anxiety,Improving core health internally and externally focusing on moves to ease the digestive organs.
Helping to lift fatigue and improving sleep.
Improving balance and strength.
Meditation to raise confidence.
Improving Posture.
There is massive potential for progression in Yoga, many think its too easy to try. When did you last do a headstand or the crab position!?
Healing Your Back Pain
Eliminate the back pain. Sufferers who did two 90-minute yoga classes a week for about six months eased soreness by 56 percent, a study inSpine shows. Those given treatments like pain meds and physical therapy lessened the hurt by only 16 percent. Posing improves posture and strengthens back muscles to keep aches at bay,
Get Better ZZZzzzz’s
Insomniacs fell asleep 15 minutes faster and slept an hour longer each night after two months of doing a 45-minute series of yoga poses daily before bed. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital speculate that regular practice helped people relax, making it easier to switch off. Doing three weekly sessions at any time of the day
Steamier Sex
A study from the journal of sexual medicine suggests. Yoga helps reduce anxiety and increases body awareness and increases the speed in which the body releases the hormones to raise arousal.
All that equates to a boost in libido. Just two hours a week can make the difference!
Improved Body Confidence
Studies show that women who practiced regularly rated their body satisfaction 20 percent higher than did those who took aerobics, even though both groups were at a healthy weight.
Yoga is one discipline but hits many areas.
I definitely recommend finding a small personal group it is very different than the large group fitness class.
Each session can be bespoke to the groups needs and confidence in positions and breathing techniques can be gained.
IF YOU ARE PLAYING CHEF THIS WEEKEND TRY THIS CLEAN RECIPE ON MUM.
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Rolled Chicken Breast Stuffed with Mushrooms and Rosemary
Rotolo di pollo ripieni ai funghi
Serves 4
4 skinless,boneless chicken breasts about 100g each
2 garlic cloves
1 carrot chopped100g closed cup mushrooms
1 large deseeded tomato
1 tablespoonchopped rosemary leaves
black pepper
salad leaves to serve
1) Preheat oven to 200 degree c/ 400 f/gas 6
Place chicken breast between two sheets of cling film on a board. Use a meat mallet to beat out until 0.5 cm thick
3) Place the rest of the ingredients in a food processor and season.Blitz until you have finely chopped and combined the mixture.
4) Spread the mushroom mixture evenly on one side of the four chicken breasts. Roll up the breasts to encase the stuffing and secure with cocktail sticks.
5) Cut four squares of baking paper and wrap each chicken piece up carefully.
Place on a tray and cook in the middle of the oven for 30 mins or until thoroughly cooked.
.
6) Unwrap and slice into rounds serve with a fresh salad of choice.
I am currently extending my Small Group Yoga timetable due to high demand. New dates will be available by March 11th.
Have a Fantastic Mother’s day. Or maybe you prefer to call it Simnel Sunday.
THE HISTORY OF MOTHERING SUNDAY
is a Christian festival. Each year it always falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent and by tradition it was a day when children gave presents, flowers and cards to their mothers. Mothering Sunday has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 16th century
Mothering Sunday was also known as Mid-Lent Sunday or Refreshment, because in the old days Sunday when boys were apprenticed from about ten years old and many girls went into service from about the same age, they were allowed a day off to go home and share a meal with their family. Mothering Sunday falls in the middle of Lent and so the fasting rules were relaxed .(some say in honour of the Feeding of the Five Thousand – a story from the Bible). Besides having a good meal, children also went home to the ‘Mother’ church.
Another name for Mothering Sunday is Simnel Sunday. That comes from the tradition of making a special cake called a Simnel Cake. There are plenty of Simnel Cake recipes but very few that explain why it has 11 marzipan balls decorating the top of the cake. They are supposed to represent 11 apostles (Judas, who betrayed Christ, is already removed).
Whatever it means to you, have a happy fit week all.