Newsletter 8th May 2025

Hello Everyone

Spring is well under way now and we have all been doing more activity – as a Pilates Family as well as individually! I’ve recently run two ‘Raise the Bar’ Masterclasses in March and April, and a big ‘well done’ to everyone who attended those. I love teaching a one-and-a-half hour class, as it gives me time to really focus on the topic. If you haven’t seen the article on why it’s so important to add resistance work to your exercises and to see the photos from the masterclass go to this link https://www.janem.co.uk/2025/04/raise-the-bar-pilates-masterclass/ . We’ve have had two social walks this year already. One was around Sandgate/Enbrook Valley and the latest was from The Five Bells at Brabourne. If you want to read about our latest walk and see the photos here is the link https://www.janem.co.uk/2025/05/five-bells-pilates-social-walk/

Please book classes well ahead to secure your places

Some of my classes are still very busy, so may I remind you all to please book your classes well ahead in order to secure your places. (You can always change your booking with a week’s notice anyway). For those who leave it until their current block has expired, I can’t be sure whether you intend to come the next week, so I can’t hold your places open for you. The later you leave it, therefore, the more chance there is that someone else may book ahead of you. Please do keep several classes ‘in the wood’ so to speak – I hate to have to let my regulars down! Booking is nice and easy through my online shop: https://www.janem.co.uk/shop/#pilates-classes or you can book in class.

Equipment w/c 13th May

Next week we shall be using hand weights in class for some added resistance and bone-loading. This is of course optional for those who would prefer to continue exercising without. Why not take advantage of the competitively priced hand weights we have in stock to add to your Pilates arsenal?! Purchase now and I’ll bring them to class for you. Otherwise, you can bring food tins or small bottles of water to use as weights instead. https://www.janem.co.uk/shop/

Back Health

I mentioned you are exercising outside of classes, which is brilliant, but I have also seen an increase in back problems due to gardening related work. Your back health is so important, and protecting and looking after your back should be one of your priorities if you have suffered with back injuries in the past, or simply as we get older. Some of you may not be aware that we have an online ‘Back Health Toolkit’ to help with your back health awareness, and including exercises to strengthen and maintain mobility in your spine. This is now available as part of our 247 Online Pilates service. In all, ‘Jane Mackenzie 24/7’ gives you access to the Back Health Toolkit, as well as over 160 recorded classes, 4 live Zoom classes a week, weight control resources, and a database of individual exercises. All of this is only £26 a month, and you get a £2 discount on every group class you take with me as well!. You can take a look at the content and what’s on offer here: https://www.janem.co.uk/pilates247/

New Masterclass – ‘Strike a Balance’ – Saturday 31st May

My next masterclass – ‘Strike a Balance’ – will be held on Saturday 31st May, 10.00 am at Hythe Cricket Club. This masterclass will challenge your balance, stability and coordination, and include exercises designed to improve all of these areas, based on the principles of Pilates. You can go ahead and book directly from my website here:

https://www.janem.co.uk/shop/classes/pilates-masterclass-31st-may-strike-a-balance/

Balance is so important, not only to keep us upright, but also to allow us to be able to complete all our activities of daily living. I know you all want to continue to do the activities you enjoy for as long as possible throughout your lives, and – for this – balance is not only useful it’s essential! For those who came on our last social last walk, the simple act of getting over a stile meant we could enjoy a beautiful view at the top of a hill. I am sure you can think of so many other reasons you need to practice and improve your balance in your own life!

Pilates Walk and Lunch – Saturday 12th July

Following on from our successful walks so far this year we will be doing another walk on Saturday 12th July, 10.00 am (route tbc.) followed by lunch somewhere nice. Please let me know if you would like to join us.

Pilates Social Day Out

Looking further ahead, would anyone be interested in a day out? Cross Keys do some great days out by coach to various places at very reasonable prices. No driving, so we can relax and let someone else take the strain. Please let me know if you might be interested in this.

WhatsApp Social Group

It’s fantastic that our WhatsApp social group is really taking off now. We now have about 80 people in the group, who receive the latest updates on the social events I organise! I also post on there what equipment we need the following week for class, so you don’t get lots of emails. I post this on my FaceBook page too. If you would like to join the group, just let me know. (You can always remove yourself from the group at any time if it doesn’t suit you.)

Advance Notice – Holiday Dates for June

Please note that I shall be taking a holiday from Friday 13th June until Monday 23rd June inclusive. The following classes will therefore not be running, and anyone with bookings on these dates will have their classes carried over to the end of their blocks. Zoom classes and 1-1 sessions will also not be running during this period (but Mat and I will as usual be producing another lovely recorded class from a sunny location for 24/7 members for when we get back!)