Cool-Headed amidst CoronaVirus

Dear dears,
during these uncertain times (a common phrase right now, I’m sure!), I would like to be barer of pragmatism in the hope to help those in my community to be able to stay in one’s centre and personal power.

To not succumb to fear and its effects on our health; mentally, physically, socially and economically. By writing this I’m not meaning to ignore advice about not spreading this further, or to undermine the awful wave of deaths across the globe but, to remind us all, that worrying literally does nothing.

Despite statistics and educated opinions, we actually cannot predict the future. We have an idea. There are many speculations on why this is happening, and where it is going, but this is based on the fact of the known, but the unknowns are plentiful and we will never actually uncover all of them.

All we can do is to stay present and aware so that we may be able to respond as best we can, not from a place of fear and over-thinking, but from a place of being rational and cool-headed amidst coronavirus unnerving times; responding as and how changes occur. Without our presence, we can jump to panic and often very much disempower ourselves and those others trying to help (see nurses reaction to empty shelves with all this panic buying). In scary times, we can often want someone to take the reigns and tell us it’ll be OK, to look for advice in the opinion of another (simply as I state here, just my opinion but I hope it to empower individuals, not to take away). but really, who knows for sure?

What can we do to quell the nagging anxieties telling us we might be housebound for 6 months? Or that everything may go to rubbish?!

What can we actually find safety or confidence in? The only sure ground anyone has is one’s sense of centre. As we practice in Pilates, meditation or yoga (and beyond, this is simply my remit), to find balance, to find that strong, easy place, to be where we can continue to breathe normally, despite the external factors and pressures. THIS is the only secure place for us, even the strongest house will crumble in time.

I wish to offer my services and experience as a means to help keep those around me empowered and centred so that as a whole community, we may each make the best decisions regarding ourselves and others, as opposed to reacting on fear of the unknown and massive speculations.

Thus, I’ll be offering zoom or Skype sessions, open Pilates/meditation/yoga depending on what I feel like and what’s requested/I hear around me. Also, I’ll be continuing to offer private sessions via this medium. All sessions will be based on donation, as in, if you’re still receiving payment from your employment, or not, anticipating your fairness for us both (my work is usually all face to face and 99% of my employers ceased my employment as soon as they’ve closed their doors). Please do get in touch via my contact form if you wish to know more.

Let’s all stay in our personal power of clear minds, decisiveness and health in physical, emotional and psychological regards.

With love, Christine

March 20, 2019March 24, 2020

Spring equinox

Equal time split between the night and the day, and being that it’s spring here in the NH, it’s also owing to the lessening of the cold and dark to make way for the sun’s growing journey which started back on December 21st with the solstice.
It ought be warmer and lighter than then, but not always do things flow as expected.

I feel that mother earth has been throwing a few curve balls our way in a bid to bring more light to the situations caused by a lack of education and balance within the world. Even for myself, I wish to know more about how to make the best of this planet..

As you’re reading this, even as I’m writing it, ones head is in the screen, as consciously as one can connect with something so artificial still begets the need for connecting with something more real… The trees as they are starting to bud and blossom, the ground as it slowly warms, the whole of nature as it stretches out of its deep, cool slumber..

It’s still my reckoning that we are like other mammals and ought to be able to take time to restore and recharge over winter, sleep more and take stock of the year, making preparations for the next year. As we don’t currently operate in this way, to honour ourselves as living beings, rather than like the robots we create, the next best thing might be to work with the arts and sciences which support our parasympathetic nervous system (ie the one which is our natural state to being but generally becomes unreachable as we forget to slow down, even in children).

If one’s feeling frazzled, or even simply in homage to the Earth, practice yoga, Pilates, take a sound bath, nap, meditate, tai chi, chi gong, a slow walk and take in the park or forest. This will help one to align more with ones natural state (and if you fall asleep, it means you’re in need of it!)

November 10, 2018December 11, 2024

The Fact Is

fact

The Fact Is

That we are fine, that I am fine, although sometimes it doesn’t feel as though I am

That this too shall pass; the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the happy and the sad

It’s the waiting on reassurance from without which takes away one’s power of self and brings in doubt

I want the blanket of comfy, safe connection, but this is all an illusion

For we, each and every one of us creates our own experience of the universe

So if I’m waiting on you to tell me it’s OK or waiting on something I’ll hope you’ll do, then really truly, I give all my power over to you

To be self-empowered means no one can take the peace which resides inside our beings

Which is why I never want you to depend on me too

To be self-soothing, nourishing and empowering and able to meet another without conditioning or manipulating

To some, this may seem like I’m weak but let me assure you, from this place one never sees defeat

For we are the champions, my friend

Coming together in power, to want rather than to depend

February 29, 2016

NEW PILATES CLASS! Thursday 8pm In Hackney!

I’m very excited to announce – New Pilates class alert!!

Starting THIS Thursday 3rd March, 8-9pm at Love Your Body Health Hub!

Come on down and get warm from the inside out 😉

Tone up your buns whilst you work on your core!

Learn about how to move more optimally and, not just fortify your body again future or current back pain but also create a more connected and stronger version of your former self..

The way I love to deliver Pilates involves intermittent stretching, whilst you’re catching up with yourself, so look forward to longer and stronger muscles, finding your flow and taking whatever other training you do (or not) to the next level.

Move, live and breathe from a powerful and centred space.

Not for the faint-hearted, yet you’ll need to leave your seriousness and ego at the door.. Bring your sense of humour and expect to be challenged in a NEW way 😉

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

Pilates for Posture – Upper back and Shoulders

Sunday 13th March 12.00 – 14.30

Do you ever notice yourself or those around you with classic hunched shoulders and neck when checking ones phone or other electronic device? Even when reading a paper book it seems that we don’t do enough to counter this forward curving position to help the body to find balance again. There was a time when people would practice walking with books on their head as a means of steady posture when walking, people were more active and there was less back pain in the ‘developed world’. Thus today, let’s take a step into finding, mobilising and using those long lost muscles; preventing atrophy, frozen shoulder, chronic neck pain, increased risk of issues associated with thoracic osteoporosis and many other things which could be positively impacted by knowing more about your anatomy and how to use it.

How does your ribcage sit? Do you feel sometimes (or all the time) like the hunchback of Notre Dame? Keep getting told you need to pull your shoulders back? Get tight in the neck, shoulders, upper back? Tension head aches? Feel a bit lost in your own skin?.

No need to worry, get yourself aware and re-aligned, come see me for part 2 of the Posture workshop where we’ll be focusing on the upper body bones alignment, how this related to your posture and, how you present yourself and how you feel out in the world. If you didn’t make it to part 1 (although the work we did there does feed into this) you can still make it to part 2, as our focus will be on the upper body with a basic recap on the previous workshop; part 2 contains Pilates and mobility exercises and stretches to help empower you and your ability to move out of excessive kyphosis (i.e. the hunchback look) and it’s associated symptoms.

When we allow our vertebra (bones in the spine) to stack optimally, not only does this allow us to breathe fully, move easily, and promote a sense of balanced confidence; but it also helps us to prevent future injuries, strains and even some diseases. Thus, also we’ll be looking in more depth on how to breath deeply, maximising mobility of the rib cage, mobilise parts of you which you didn’t know you could mobilise and use Pilates and some other tools to get you more present in your body, moving more as nature intended!

If you want any more information or to book on then contact Christine now (email and phone number below)! Places are limited to 5, all equipment is provided.

£20 investment with Early Bird booking (book on or before Thursday 3rd March)
£25 regular investment price*

If you’re interested but would rather the 1:1 attention and privacy of a private session then get in touch! 1:1 sessions are a great way to also help support you better if you want or need that little extra.

Love and thanks
Christine x

email: christine@core-focus.co.uk

Links for why posture matters:

TED Talks about Posture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljm0ldxgkcE&index=6&list=FL7znEFcqi4uQ88oActfL7Cg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc
Websites on Posture:
http://blog.crew.co/power-postures/
http://jamesclear.com/body-language-how-to-be-confident

* Please note, space only reserved once payment has been made, refund only given if requested 2 weeks or more before course start date, unless you can swap your place with a SUITABLE candidate (suitable down to the discretion of Christine @ Core focus). This is to ensure that you get the best quality sessions from Christine, and that Core-Focus can continue to deliver what you need, on a small scale and at an affordable price. Thanks 🙂

January 29, 2016January 29, 2016

Pilates for Posture Workshop – Sitting and Standing

Pilates for Posture – Sitting and Standing

Sunday 7th Feb 12.00 – 14.30

How are you sitting (or standing) right now? Are your pelvis and spine aligned and well? Does it even matter?

When we allow our vertebra (bones in the spine) to stack optimally, not only does this allow us to breathe fully, move easily, and promote a sense of balanced confidence; but it also helps us to prevent future injuries, strains and even some diseases.

How we chose to sit or stand, and being aware of how the spine aligns through the different arrangement of our bones, is key to influencing and having a positive impact on our physical and emotional health. Ideally, we were not created to sit or stand still for long periods of time; however, the current situation for most of us is just that; being overly static and without enough awareness about how this impacts ones health. Hence, why more and more people are turning to Pilates as a preventative and restorative for issues caused by poor posture in day to day life, sports, work and even some forms of extreme physical yoga.

Emotionally speaking, your posture affects both how you see the world and how the world sees you. Standing tall and broad has been proven to help people to not only feel confident but to feel happy too! (check out some of the links below if you want to learn more!)..

Thus, in this 2.5 hour workshop we will be discussing and looking at how to sit and stand optimally for the health and happiness of you and your spine. Empower yourself to have better health, awareness and longevity; look at the relationship of your spine to your pelvis so you can learn easy ways to correct your own posture when out and about or at work. Also, we will be incorporating different Pilates exercises and other relevant techniques to strengthen and relax different parts of your anatomy, enabling you to move, sit and stand more freely; whatever it is you do with your life.

If you want any more information or to book on then contact Christine now (email and phone number below)! Places are limited to 5, all equipment is provided.

£20 investment with Early Bird booking (book on or before Sunday 24th January – offer made available to email list, sign up to recieve future discounts and information before everyone else!)
£25 regular investment price*

If you’re interested but would rather the 1:1 attention and privacy of a private session then get in touch! 1:1 sessions are a great way to also help support you better if you want or need that little extra.

Love and thanks
Christine x

email: christine@core-focus.co.uk

Links for why posture matters:

TED Talks about Posture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljm0ldxgkcE&index=6&list=FL7znEFcqi4uQ88oActfL7Cg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc
Websites on Posture:
http://blog.crew.co/power-postures/
http://jamesclear.com/body-language-how-to-be-confident

* Please note, space only reserved once payment has been made, refund only given if requested 2 weeks or more before course start date, unless you can swap your place with a SUITABLE candidate (suitable down to the discretion of Christine @ Core focus). This is to ensure that you get the best quality sessions from Christine, and that Core-Focus can continue to deliver what you need, on a small scale and at an affordable price. Thanks 🙂

May 13, 2014January 31, 2016

What is and who was Pilates?

Pilates, previously termed ‘Contrology’ by its founder, Joseph Pilates, is a method which combines core-conditioning with spinal alignment; strength training, especially in the deep core muscles (through the back, trunk, hips, legs and shoulder girdle) and breath awareness. Pilates’ Contrology was designed to use the mind to control the muscles, building strength in both as the student progresses with the exercises.

Pilates’ method can be done on a simple mat, using complex machines and/or using equipment such as various balls, blocks, bands and barrels. Each of the original 34 exercises can be broken down or built up to make it accessible to anyone; today, there are also many more functional exercises included in classes for warming up, cooling down, adapting and in my opinion, helping to have fun with achieving physical and mental fitness!

Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883 or 1880 (there are a couple of different opinions about his birth, life and death), he spent his life seeming to be dedicated to attaining and assisting others with their own optimal physical health.

From my experience, the Pilates’ method today is one of the best methods for building strength in the body. It brings optimum use and balance to the muscles, in a safe and controlled way; and due to its focus on precision and control, rather than maximum peripheral exertion it seems to work the body from the inside out.

There are 6 fundamental principles of the Pilates method which need to be adhered to in each exercise:

Breathing, each exercise is led by its own breathing pattern to make optimum use of the core muscles.
Concentration, focusing the mind on which muscles are engaged for flexing or stretching; as well as having awareness about your current bodily movement and position (proprioception).
Control, is needed so the right muscles are engaged at the right time and in the right way to help achieve the correct exercise and it’s alignment; whilst being mindful to not over-exert and loosing form.
Core-Centring, the core region is the foundation from which all other movements move out from, essential in controlling and stabilising other parts of the body.
Precision, care and attention must be given to joint and limb alignment during static postures as well as during movement.
Flow, the exercises are performed with grace and fluidly, flowing out from the core and working at lesser speeds to help enforce the precision.

And if you’ve been to a couple of classes you’ll see every teacher is wonderfully different, as is every student. To me, Pilates is one of the most accessible things we can do physically, a lot of physios also use it when assisting their patient’s rehabilitation too!