Comprehensive Women’s Wellness: From Physical Strength to Mental Resilience
Working with women of all ages from pregnancy to postpartum and right through the menopause, the focus is on strengthening movements that help people move their bodies effectively and efficiently and see great results. We learn exercises and movements that help you unlock your body’s true potential no matter what core or pelvic floor issues you are challenged with. My signature style of teaching incorporates full body movement with a real focus on mobility, stretching, breathwork and relaxation. I am passionate and confident about movement free from injury or pain.
Physical Movement and Structured Sessions
Addressing individual needs, developing movement plans and lifestyle tips to help promote a balanced and healthy life is a priority. For those looking for guided practice, the following sessions are available:
| Session Type | Schedule | Focus and Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Strength & Sculpt Sessions | Tuesdays & Thursdays 9.30am-10.30am | Combines strength work using dumbbells, resistance bands and a variety of equipment. |
Each session combines strength work using dumbbells, resistance bands and a variety of equipment. Lots of lovely stretches are included throughout as well as breathwork to provide a well-rounded full body-focused class. As we move into our 40s, the importance of relaxation and calm is so vital for our bodies and minds. Therefore, these sessions include the all important Strength work combined with relaxation techniques using breathwork and stretches, prioritising mindful stretches, breathwork and relaxation.
Managing Stress and Societal Pressure
Mental wellness is as critical as physical strength. Research shows that women report more stress over the holidays compared to men. They say it’s harder to relax during the holidays. Women also are more likely to engage in default coping skills, like comfort eating. Why is this the case? Just take a look at the magazine rack at your local grocery store. Women are being instructed to make the perfect meal, decorate the home, buy the perfect gifts — all this pressure for perfection. This societal pressure is strong, and research shows women are almost twice as likely as men to say they’ll do all the work necessary to pull off the festivities.
Effective De-stressing Techniques
So, how do you handle this stress? Consider these in-the-moment de-stressors:
- Read a book, go for a walk, journal.
- Have a lunch or phone date with a friend.
- Deep breathing – Pretend you’re breathing air all the way down to your toes - inhale for five, and exhale for five. Notice your belly moving up and down, not your chest.
Explore a longer lasting de-stressor by asking yourself: is the way I do holidays working for me? To answer this, first think about your values. You can think of values as a compass. They aren’t goals that you can check off a list, they are a compass that guides you. For example, if you value learning, you can’t check that off a list. Learning is something that is ongoing. I would highly recommend sitting down and making a list of your top values.
If you want, doing a values card sort is a great way to kick start this process. Google 'values card sort.' This is an exercise where you can sort values cards and create a list of your most important values. Then, once you have that list, ask yourself is the way you’re approaching the holidays consistent with these values? If it’s not, then ask yourself what you want to do differently. If you do holidays in a way that is consistent with what’s important to you, and not what’s important to society, this will eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress.