Getting Closer to Treating!

Ok its now only a matter of weeks before we are released onto 'real' people to practice our osteopathic skills... its exciting and nerve racking at the same time ... not the treatment itself but the case history taking and diagnosing as well as justifying those diagnoses with tests... one big learning curve - come July - exams over - and I will hopefully be raring to go!

Intensive Mat Course Central YMCA May 2011

I had to make sure that all the students got a chance to be in 'print' or 'picture' at least... Students teaching a range of essential exercises.

Above Pamela teaching Sam the Cat Stretch.


Gemma jumped in to make up a pair with Irina to teach the Spine Twist using the Fitness Circle and the Arc Barrel to decrease hip flexor tension and maintain neutral spine.



Sarah teaching Penny the modified obliques with a fitness circle. Always a challenge!

Katy demonstrating the double leg stretch... ensure either imprint or neutral spine is maintained there! Marjorie looks on...

And Finally Dee teaching Oriana the Spine Twist.... Good luck guys and keep practising and remember to log those hours in your log book xx

Gyrotonics Convert

I loved the feeling to gyrotonics. The system concentrates on the body as a whole and you feel muscles that you haven't felt for a while... well I hadn't anyway from doing too much teaching and not enough doing! My next session with the lovely Dylan is next wednesday - can't wait for the next instalment!

A Sneaky Look at Gyrotonics

Im going to my first ever session of Gyrotonics this morning.... having searched the internet for a little offer - Kingscrossstudio.co.uk were offering 3 for £90! What a bargain I thought - so I'll keep you posted!

Back to Mat - May 2011

Just finished the second weekend of the mat course at Central YMCA. Here's some of the students in action ... keep up the good work!




Sam teaching Pamela the Side Leg Series....










and below Katy (thanks for the use of your phone!) teaching Marjorie the Saw

















Ori...ana teaching Dee the Breast Prep over the arc barrel.... love the hand gesture - very elegant!










Irina teaching Gemma the obliques roll back... Gemma thought she was there to observe and then was pulled into do the power class and pair up with one of the guys. Thanks for your help.


















And finally Belen being taught by Anna the Ab prep.

Just remember keep practising as well as observe as much as you can to be able to look at people's alignment in their bodies.. Good luck x

Living on the Edge

I am loving the new Stott Pilates Edge - it is so versatile... most of the DVD's use this with traditional mat exercises but I prefer this to be incorporated into the cadillac stuff to either help or challenge clients... I know those guys out there will be thanking me for 'bums of steel' yet!

Try it out - its fab... along with the cardio-tramp I now feel as if I've got all the kit at my fingers - which I have so come and try it out either in North London or Central YMCA. Email me or phone me for a session

Exercise of the Month - May - Swimming Prep with/without balls!

Start Position:

Place hands under shoulders and knees under hips, maintaining a neutral spine. Keep you head on top of your shoulders and feel width across the collar bone to soften the rib cage. You should also feel your abdominals muscles feeling slightly drawing towards the middle to support your body on movement.

Modification: use stability balls under your knees or hands or use toning balls under your hands to challenge your stability further.

Keeping the spine in neutral slowing draw the leg along the floor and lift no higher than hip height. You should feel your gluts (buttocks) engage to support the leg in the air. The body should maintain the same shape as the start position.

Modification: If lifting the leg brings you off balance you could just draw the foot along the ground as below. Feel like you are pressing a weight away from you to get the buttocks working.

Come back to the start position each time and alternate legs or arms.

To increase the challenge you can raise both arm and opposite leg and swap over.