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Aqua aerobics is an exercise class done in the water, generally in a swimming pool; you exercise against the pressure of the water. With a weightless body, there are no shocks and fewer aches, strains and pulled muscles. It’s for everyone regardless of age and for both swimmers and non-swimmers (so no excuses). It’s a sport that works various muscle groups, including the abdominals, buttocks, thighs, arms and shoulders and is often done to music to give rhythm (and atmosphere) to the sessions. (Wikipedia) Summer’s here, swimming pools are open. Below are five exercises you can do. 1. Back. In the water on your back, place a noodle (float) at shoulder blade level. Your arms and hands should be out to the side, along the noodle. Make small kicks in the water, keeping your legs beneath the surface and slightly bent. Travel backwards a minimum of four to six lengths of the pool. 2. Thighs and buttocks. Lie on your back, as in the first exercise.  Kick your legs...

A recent article in the Telegraph newspaper has suggested that meditation can be bad for your mental health. Read the article and then my comments below. I'll be interested in your views. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2019/05/09/meditation-retreats-bad-mental-health-study-suggests/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_em Today for many everything has to be done to the extreme and done now. Meditation has of late become “trendy” but by its very definition, it takes time to learn; there’s no fast track. Meditation - the process of quietening the mind in order to spend time in thought for relaxation or religious/spiritual purposes (definition from Yogapedia). The simplest way to begin meditating is to stop whatever you’re doing, sit comfortably and concentrate on breathing more slowly and deeply while keeping the breath’s natural rhythm. Building the capacity to quieten the mind has undeniable value at a time when our attention is under siege, and trying to do several things at one time our habitual state. Done even for a few minutes each day, it’s also valuable as a means to relax the body and calm the emotions. Mindfulness...

These days cancer prevention is a common topic. Family history is one of the greates risk factors for certain cancers but this does not necessarily have to dictate your future well being. Here are 7 sensible things you can do to ensure optimum health. Get screened - early screening can prevent many cancer diagnoses and even deaths. Stop smoking - tobacco use is one of the main risk factors in the development of cancer in the lungs, head, neck, pancreas and urinary tract. It is in fact one of the leading causes of cancer diagnosis and death. Stay active - according to the International Agency for Research on cancer, about 25 percent of cancer cases worldwide could be due to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Eat a health-promoting diet - we should do what we can to reduce cancer risk by eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans. Start consuming more sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries, garlic...

My dentist recommended Pilates to me to improve my posture after remedial work on my teeth. I’ve been a Weight Watchers Gold Member for 25 years. I’ve practiced yoga for 42 years. My teacher training was at the Sivinanda Centre in Orléans. I’ve run the London Marathon twice, both times in 5 and a half hours. I once taught a yoga class (in French) on a squash court when I was living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I had an overweight foster cat whom I gradually slimmed. I've swum a mile only once and that was in a small, hexagonal pool. I passed the Cordon Vert Diploma for the Vegetarian Society in 1992. I’m a Tour de France fan but my own cycling is done on my stationery bike. at home Finishing my second marathon ...