I’m sharing the above (5:40 minute) video so you have a bit of guidance in this really simple stretch.
I filmed this sequence to send it as a resource for a new client but I wanted to share it with you since it’s one of my faves.
I use it to alleviate low back & hip tightness and shoulder rounded forwardness.
It gets everything around the hips, opens up the chest and can be quite meditative once you connect your breath.
Practice it and let me know what you think
Welcome to April!
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’ll opine that the year is flying by…
So, how’s 2026 treating you so far?
Me? Some things in my life are fab and some leave a little to be desired, but what would life be without some contrast, right?
Let’s dispense with the main womp womp, sad trombone, less than fab thingy:
I Procrastinate Like a Mother Flipper
Projects! I have so many projects to finish.
How about putting even one more piece into the 1/3 finished jigsaw puzzle hidden under a towel on my dining room table that’s been there since Christmas? Yeah, that’d be good.
How about finishing up the videos and sending them in to test out for a movement course I did the first weekend of November last year?? Ummm, isn’t that deadline coming up soon?
How about whacking down the tree limb that’s crowding the frangipani tree with the amazingly deep pink flowers I spy from my home-based Schtudio each and every day??? C’mon, that tree is screaming out for some help.
Nope, those things, plus - ahem - many more, are still awaiting…
I do get spurts of motivation to tackle my to-do list but it never lasts so, womp, womp, womp.
But!
My Plan to Amend & Change
April, with its themes of renewal and resurrection allows me a sense of optimism and I can feel the inertia ready to slip away.
In Australia we have a lovely long weekend for Easter because both Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays. I know I’ll have time to tackle at least some of my excitedly-started but rarely-completed-in-a-rational-amount-of-time projects.
Yay, Me!
My Pillars of Health are: Movement, Relationships & Community, Sleep, Nutrition, Mindfulness, Creativity, and One’s Environment (macro & micro)
FAB THINGS
Which of my Pillars Of Health have I been focusing on lately? What fab, high vibing things have been in my life so far this year and how am I carrying them forward into April?
Movement & Mindfulness
It gives me great pleasure to go upside down and I’ve been working on my hand-standing ability for a hot minute, I even take a hand balancing class at my gym every week.
Two years ago I had the goal of holding a 30 second handstand and I’m pleased to announce that I’m halfway there. Yep, you read that right, mission NOT accomplished. Do I mind? Not really, because I held a handstand for 15 seconds!
It felt like I was upside down forever and it felt so great!
The early class (6:15AM) every Saturday is my favourite (it’d have to be to get me up and to the gym at that hour every week). Not only do I get uninterrupted hand stand practice, the class has a pretty relaxed vibe and the mostly same group of crazies show up every week so it’s pretty social.
I think this class reminds me that while it’s great to have a goal, if you’re not enjoying the process of working towards it, once you’re able to tick it off your list the achievement will feel a bit hollow.
I went to class in March and I will continue into April and beyond. I have faith with practice and encouragement I’ll get my 30 second hold (even if it takes me another two + years).
Relationships & Community
Oh my heck, last week I was so social.
Over a five day span:
An old friend came to stay for two nights and there had been some (major) changes in her life that I wasn’t aware of so there were a lot of deep conversations. Then the hubby and I spent some hours with our neighbours who’d lost their fur baby the week before (lots of tears). That same evening another friend visiting from out of town came to dinner. The next morning I went down to Brisbane with three friends and we went to the ballet.
As an ex-professional dancer sometimes when I see a dance performance I am underwhelmed and/or too critical. Not in this instance, holy hell, the company and the choreography were both amazing. Messa da Requiem is a large scale work with 170 singers and dancers moving on stage. It was a powerful work and I’m still thinking about it.
After the ballet I said goodbye to my Ballet Babes and connected with one of my dearest friends who lives in Brissie. We had a blast.
The next morning the hubby drove down to the big city, LOL, and we had lunch with an old Queensland friend who now lives in Western Australia. We hadn’t seen him since his wife had died about 18 months ago and it was heartwarming to see how well he’s doing.
Did I feel exhausted by all of the connecting and catching up with friends? For the introverted me surprisingly not - it rejuvenated me.
While I was squizzing around the internet I stumbled upon some research that mentioned “Tend and Befriend”.1 This term is applied to the way women negotiate relationships and support each other and that is what I witnessed over those five days in full force.
During April I won’t be quite so social but I’ll still lean into staying in touch with friends far and wide. Plus mid-month I’m co-hosting a full day retreat so will be Tending and Befriending my heart out.
And the Final Four Pillars of Health?
Creativity
See Christmas jigsaw puzzle above - I vow to put in a piece or two or all, maybe I’ll even finish it this month!
Sleep
Are you always working on your sleep hygiene? Me too. In April I’ll keep tidying up my nighttime 3-2-1 routine (which I learned from Brendan Burchard)
Three hours before bed no food
Two hours before bed no work
One hour before bed no screens
Nutrition
This one might be a bit wonky since, EASTER! I will have some chocolate but will make sure the quality’s as high as I can afford (have you seen the prices lately??) And I will make some yummy, probably more indulgent food than I normally would.
I’ll enjoy it immensely.
Environment
Micro: I’ve been reading a bit about plastic lately so the plan is to slowly replace all the tupperware type plastic containers that we store our leftovers in with glass. I also spend most of my days in workout tights (and have since I was a kid) so I feel a rabbit hole dive coming on about that, stay tuned or, if you’ve already rabbit holed on that particular topic flick me some info.
Macro: Ummm, I think I’ll just mow the ‘flat’ yard on our property which sometimes takes me two full days!
Alrighty, I think that’s about enough from me but I hope to check in with you in a couple of weeks but…
DON’T FORGET
If you want to take advantage of the free Pilates class that features Joseph Pilates’ original 34 exercises the code is MM26THANKS
If you want 66% of another class in my On Demand Library the code is EXPLOREMAT.
On Demand Library 👈Here
Class rentals last 7 days / codes expire April 18th
Thanks for reading! Happy April!
xBec🤎
Bedrov A, Gable SL. Thriving together: the benefits of women's social ties for physical, psychological and relationship health. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2023 Jan 16;378(1868):20210441. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0441. Epub 2022 Nov 28. PMID: 36440568; PMCID: PMC9703221.
