It’s been work in progress for some weeks now, but finally (!), the new autumn timetable is here! There are lots of new classes to choose from (and more on these later), but my biggest news is that I’ve found TWO new venues! 

I’m delighted to offer My Local Pilates classes at London Fields Yoga (Arthaus, Richmond Rd. Hackney, just off Mare St.) and Discover Children’s Story Centre, Stratford (on the High St). Both venues will launch in full swing with a series of FREE taster classes between Monday 14th and Friday 18th September.   

London Fields Yoga is a beautiful, spacious and light filled studio. They’ve been kind enough to provide studio space for My Local Pilates to hold Pilates classes in the centre of Hackney. I simply love the location: a short stroll from Broadway Market, London Fields and the lido (where you’ll always find on a sunny day!), it’s housed in the same building as my very fave restaurant Raw Duck www.rawduckhackney.co.uk. The food is innovative and inspiring but the selling point for me is the vast selection of natural and biodynamic wine (untampered with and must for anyone that is otherwise wine intolerant – more on this soon!!). It’s also home to “Fix”, a Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Sports Massage practice. These guys “fixed” me before I did Run Hackney last year so I highly recommend them! www.fixlondon.co.uk. In addition to daily yoga classes, London Fields Yoga also host a variety of holistic therapies from mindfulness meditation to massage. There’s also a sauna for use (I suspect between classes that’s where you’ll find me!). Yoga, meditation and massage is all bookable through their own website www.londonfieldsyoga.co.uk. For Pilates you need to book through me!

Discover Children’s Story Centre is a really unique space and aside from being the most imaginative, exciting and engaging centre for children (if you’ve got kids you should take them along!), they also house a number of awesome studios for public hire, including one with softly changing coloured led lights –Pilates is never going to seem the same again! It’s also right in the centre of Stratford, with its numerous and easy transport links and a stone’s throw from world class shopping, eating at drinking and nearby Westfield.   Amongst my new 45 minute “classes for busy office workers” on offer at Discover, I’ll be holding a 45 minute “Pilates for Parents” class (bring your baby!); an open level class for mum’s, dads and anyone else left in charge of a little one for the day. It’ll be a great chance to come and see the centre and have a workout too!

Anyone that knows me well can vouch for my increasing obsessiveness to eat clean. After years of ongoing IBS and migraine, coupled with an eternity researching the whys and wherefores, I’ve finally come closer to understanding my body and its gripes! My own journey led me to a relatively unknown intolerance to sulphur and its derivatives (which for some poor souls can be a severe allergy resulting in anaphylaxis). I’ll say how I found out in another post (you’ll like the story I promise!), but for now what I'll say is that it’s frankly a right pain. Sulphur and sulphur containing substances are used to preserve pretty much most things that comes in a packet, tin, jar, bottle, vacuum pack.  That includes “healthy” foods like organic tinned tomatoes, pulses, lentils, chickpeas and dried fruits as well as perhaps more obvious suspects like sweet chilli sauce, ketchup, jams, mayonnaise. It also affects wine, cider, beer, soft drinks, posh cordials… the list is endless. Thankfully mine is an intolerance, so ingesting these things isn't going to kill me, but within a week of weaning myself off Heinz Tomato ketchup (which has featured highly in my mealtimes since I was on solids) and some other higher sulphite-containing culprits I already felt like a different person. 

I now work for myself which makes juggling Pilates teaching and eating clean a whole lot easier. I have tomatoes growing in the garden and can’t wait to make my own ketchup. My one weakness is still my sweet tooth, and a penchant for proper bread slathered in posh jam (yes I know it’s just sugar!!). I daresay I read this recipe somewhere but I’ve been mashing fresh berries together with a few tablespoons of chia seeds, so massive right now due to the high fibre, protein, omega 3 and anti-oxidative properties. This homemade “jam” seems to keep for a couple of weeks if refrigerated in a sterile airtight jar. It’s low GI and the Chia seeds are also a great way to help your body retain water and stay optimally hydrated since they absorb up to 27 times their weight in water, which can turn a soupy mess of crushed berries into something you can spread.  It’s great served on porridge, Greek yogurt (the proper stuff, with up to 10.6g protein/100g) or my favourite; homemade sourdough bread.  Try other fruit combos too - strawberries, raspberries, whatever’s in season!