Understanding the difference between muscular soreness, fatigue, joint discomfort, and genuine ‘stop now’ pain is the key to progressing confidently without fear… and without ignoring warning signs your body wants you to hear. In this article, I'll help you understand what each sensation means, why some soreness is completely normal, and how to listen to your body in a way that supports long-term strength, mobility and confidence.

Strength training is one of the most effective, science-backed tools for changing your body composition and improving metabolic health - without spending your life on the treadmill. In this article, I explain how strength work helps, what it can and can’t do for fat loss, and how to fit it into real life (without starving yourself or living in the gym).

Why Pilates supercharges strength training, the muscle groups and movement patterns involved, the research backing it, and how to blend the two for strength that genuinely lasts.

What I see, year after year, is that most people aren’t failing at fitness - they’re trying to build it in a way that doesn’t match real life. Consistency isn’t something you have or don’t have. It’s something you practise. So instead of promising yourself a complete overhaul, consider a slightly different January intention.

A local, realistic blueprint for moving well in midlife - without burning out or breaking down.

One of the best things about this corner of North London is that movement is baked into our lifestyle. We don’t just drive to gyms; we use our environment. However, the specific geography of our area creates distinct physical patterns that I see in the studio every week.

Simple, gentle, do-them-right-now movement ‘snacks’ you can weave into everyday moments that help you move like you used to, support your joints, build real strength, and keep your body feeling at home in itself. No extra time required. Just awareness… and maybe whatever’s on Netflix.

Pilates is a method of movement education that teaches you how to control movement rather than force it, build strength around joints, improve posture and efficiency. Research shows that exercise focusing on control, alignment and breathing improves balance and fall prevention, joint health, and movement confidence. Pilates supports all three, making it especially valuable as we age.

True, lasting strength - and confidence in your movement - begins from the inside out, with stabilising muscles that support every Pilates exercise and every strength move. By reawakening these muscles, you create a foundation that allows you to safely progress in whatever movement practice suits you.

While Pilates and strength training overlap in some ways, each has a unique role in supporting your body. Understanding how they work together rather than in competition is the key to moving, feeling, and performing your best at any age.

Whether you’re returning to exercise or trying something new, knowing what each practice offers - and why combining them delivers the best results - can transform how you move and how you feel.

We’ve all heard them. The clichés of ageing. They’re said with a wink, but they land with a sting. Because as much as they sound like jokes, many of these clichés are grounded in real changes that happen in the body as we age.

The truth? These transitions are common, but they’re not inevitable. Decay is not destiny. With the right training, you can protect, reset, and even reverse some of these so-called clichés. And strength training is one of the most powerful tools we have.

Have you ever watched a child play? They squat deeply to pick up toys, run without hesitation, climb onto chairs, and crouch into positions we as adults often find uncomfortable. Children move naturally - with freedom, curiosity, and strength.

But somewhere along the way, most of us lose that connection. Hours of sitting, years of avoiding certain movements, and the natural decline of muscle after 40 mean that squatting, bending, or even reaching overhead can feel harder than it should.

The good news? You can reclaim those natural movements - and strength training is the key.

When most people think about muscles, they picture toned arms, defined abs, or athletes on magazine covers. For years, the fitness industry has encouraged us to see muscles as purely aesthetic - something to “show off” rather than something to live with.

But here’s the truth: muscles aren’t about vanity. They’re about utility. They’re the foundation of how we move, how we age, and how we stay independent. And if you’re over 40, understanding the value of muscle - beyond appearances - is one of the most important health shifts you can make.

If you’re in your 50s and feeling like your body has changed overnight, you’re not alone.

Many women describe this stage as ‘shifting sands’. Weight seems harder to manage, sleep changes, and joints that once felt fine now ache after simple tasks.

You’ve planned your workout, your weights are ready… and you’d rather do anything else.
It’s not laziness. It’s being human.

Motivation isn’t constant. It ebbs and flows with sleep, stress, hormones, and life itself.
The trick isn’t forcing yourself to be motivated, it’s knowing how to keep going when you’re not.

I often hear from men and women in their 40s, 50s and older who tell me: “I know I should be doing more strength training, but it feels a bit intimidating.” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

If you’ve been feeling like it’s harder to stay strong, pain-free and energised than it used to be, you're not imagining it - and you're definitely not alone.

One of the most inspiring parts of this community is seeing the dedication, progress, and joy that each of you brings to your practice. That’s why, each month, I’ll be shining a light on someone whose journey deserves to be celebrated. It’s a way to acknowledge your efforts, share real stories, and remind us all that we’re in this together—supporting, moving, and growing as a community.

Boost your body awareness and movement by discovering your sixth sense - Proprioception

Have you ever wondered why practise makes perfect? Or how athletes, dancers, and musicians (for example) achieve mastery in their craft? The answer lies in the power of repetition.

Four pillars of health: sleep, exercise, nutrition, mental wellbeing