01/04/2026
FITNESS PILATES - APRIL 2026 NEWSLETTER
Dear Fitness Pilates Member
Hope you had a great March. As I am putting the final touches to April’s Newsletter and I can begin with ‘spring is finally here’.
I have been teaching online now for over 6 years. I never would have thought this would have happened, but the lockdown changed our working plans for myself and I imagine for many of you too, for the better. I had to learn hard and fast, and now I successfully deliver a Zoom class a week (Mondays), Carers twice a month and Personal Training. Teaching Group Exercise online has enabled me to become more creative with class content and output. Building an online timetable with a wide variety of innovative classes has been one of the biggest points for you and myself, as being creative and experimental every day is so important.
Class Timetable
Monday – Stisted Village Hall 0930-1015 & ZOOM – 1100-1145
Tuesday – Braintree Swim Centre 0930-1015
Wednesday – Wethersfield Village Hall 1100-1145
Thursday – Coggeshall Village Hall 1100-1145 & 1500-1545 Chair Pilates (1st Thursday of the month)
Friday – St Peters Village Hall – 1st Friday of the month – Fitness Pilates/Mindfulness/Relaxation 1115-1200
Don’t forget…..if you can’t make the ZOOM times then I can send you a recording for just £8. Let me know and I can forward you a link from my YouTube Studio.
NOTE FOR YOUR DIARIES –hand weighted lessons the first week of the month
Osteoporosis
Did you know that over 3 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with this condition, but the worrying part is there is far more than that, as people have ignored their condition. It’s not too late to find out if you have osteoporosis by doing this risk assessment.
I have completed the test and the result is that I am at risk. Here is the link, it only takes 5 mins. https://theros.org.uk/
How Common Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is very common, particularly among older adults. Here are some key facts:
• Over 10 million people in the UK live with arthritis or related conditions.
• Osteoarthritis affects approximately 9 million people in the UK, mostly those aged 45 and over.
• Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 400,000 people in the UK and can occur at any age.
With an ageing population, the prevalence of arthritis is increasing. Fitness Pilates can play a vital role in helping participants manage symptoms, improve mobility, and enhance their quality of life.
Key Tips for Managing Arthritis:
1. Warm-Up Thoroughly: A gentle, dynamic warm-up increases circulation and loosens stiff joints.
2. Strengthen Muscles Around Joints: Use bodyweight or light resistance to improve stability and support.
3. Incorporate Stretching: Gentle stretches help maintain flexibility and relieve tension.
4. Avoid High-Impact or Rapid Movements: Refrain from jumping or heavy lifting to prevent joint strain.
5. Use Props: Supportive tools like chairs, yoga blocks, or resistance bands can help with balance and accessibility.
6. Encourage Rest as Needed: Pause or modify exercises based on comfort.
7. Monitor Pain Levels: Move within your pain-free range and stop if discomfort increases.
Types of Arthritis:
1. Osteoarthritis (OA)
o Description: The most common type, caused by wear and tear on joint cartilage.
o Symptoms: Stiffness, pain, and swelling, typically in weight-bearing joints like knees and hips.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
o Description: An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks joint tissues.
o Symptoms: Inflammation, joint deformity, and fatigue, often affecting smaller joints (e.g., fingers, wrists).
3. Psoriatic Arthritis
o Description: Linked to psoriasis, causing joint pain, swelling, and skin issues.
o Symptoms: Pain in fingers, toes, and spine, with occasional flare-ups.
4. Gout
o Description: A form of arthritis caused by uric acid buildup in joints.
o Symptoms: Sudden, severe pain, often in the big toe or smaller joints.
5. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
o Description: A type of arthritis affecting the spine, leading to stiffness and reduced flexibility.
o Symptoms: Chronic back pain and limited spinal movement
‘Exercise that's good for your bones
Bones stay strong if you give them work to do.
For exercise to be most effective at keeping bones strong, you need to combine:
• weight-bearing exercise with impact
• muscle strengthening exercise
Variety is good for bones, which you can achieve with different movements, directions and speeds - in an activity like dancing for example. Short bursts of activity may be best, such as running followed by a jog, or jogging followed by a walk.
Weight-bearing exercise with 'impact'
You are weight bearing when you are standing, with the weight of your whole body pulling down on your skeleton.
Weight bearing exercise with impact involves being on your feet and adding an additional force or jolt through your skeleton. This could be anything from walking to star jumps.
You can get weight bearing exercise with impact by taking part in some physical activity, sports or by doing specific exercises. The level of impact varies depending on the activity’
https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/exercise-for-bones/
I have learnt something new from this conclusion that the organisation encourages impact exercises ie from walking to star jumps. Hey, perhaps I need to introduce some jumping jacks and burpees into our sessions 😊
I LOVE MY NEUROPLASTICITY
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by creating new neural pathways and strengthening/weakening existing ones.
Neuroplasticity gives us hope - it means we can change! We can change any habit or pattern of belief.
We unconsciously create neural pathways when we indulge in certain behaviours or emotions regularly. These "habits" become neuro-associations in the brain. We end up doing them without thinking.
But that doesn't mean we're programmed to continue to repeat those behaviours or emotions. When you stop a consistent behaviour, those neuro-associations shrink immediately.
When we start changing our thoughts and behaviours, our brain rewires itself to reflect that. It actually grows new connections and new neural tissue to adapt to the changes we make.
You can use neuroplasticity to undo negative thoughts and behaviours or to support positive thoughts and behaviours. It's versatile!
We can change anything we want - even how happy or sad we are - by focusing on and choosing which neural pathways we want to strengthen.
66 days to change a habit
Did you know that it takes an average of 66 days to form a change of habit? I didn’t know either, I thought it was 21. But that’s the conclusion of a ground breaking investigation carried out by Cancer Research UK. No wonder it’s sometimes so hard to stick to our new intentions
MUSCLE MATTERS
As we age, it’s important to build strength and maintain muscle mass to help prevent future injury and illness
Did you know that from the age of 30 our muscle mass starts to decline? This is a natural process known as Sarcopenia and accelerates over time, putting older people at risk of instability, illness, and injury. Research shows that regular muscle stretching exercise in later life can prevent falls and fracture, build bone density, regulate blood pressure, prevent type 2 diabetes, and even enhance mood.
There are more than 600 human muscles, soft tissue essential for movement and physical function. Repetitive strength-based training that stresses muscle to build density benefits the whole body.
Thankfully there are easy steps everyone can take to rebuild and maintain their muscle mass and its never too late to start. It is recommended that older people incorporate strength training in their regular exercise programme 2-3 times a week, gradually increasing weights and session duration to stimulate muscle resistance.
5 ways to build strength
Rest and Repeat
Try lifting a weight such as dumbbells, or even a tin of beans. Start with 8-12 reps of a bicep curl, increasing reps, weights and frequency as strength grows.
Use your body weight body weight
Body weight exercises are great for building muscle mass. Depending on your fitness and comfort level, try sets of push ups, planks and squats, or a lower intensity exercise such as repeatedly standing from a sitting position i.e. sit to stand
Stretch and Tone
Doing Pilates helps to improve core strength, flexibility, and balance. The Pilates movements target multiple muscle groups to promote stretching and toning.
Eat more Protein
Strength training breaks down and rebuild protein in muscles, so it’s advised to eat more protein found in nuts, seeds, dairy, eggs, meat, fish, and green vegetables
Ive attached a lovely little workout that covers the subjects in this month’s newsletter ‘Strength V Fitness Pilates’. Hope you enjoy it.
Have a fabulous April and Happy Easter.
Quote of the month
Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale
Love and Best Wishes
Marisa x
Fitness Pilates Health Coach
marisaswain@btinternet.com
https://marisaswain-fitnesspilates.co.uk
www.facebook/PTSfitnesspilatesclassesBraintree
You can also find me on YouTube & Instagram
Mobile 07811441810
HELLO APRIL
New month, fresh page, clean sheet… ask March, with love, to keep everything you don’t wish to carry onwards with you. Anything that is weighing you down or holding you back. We go on, right now, lighter.
April is life. Rebirth. Bloom-time.
Mother Nature has lifted her hand and given the signal to grow, grow, grow. Listen to her and do as nature around you does… bud, bloom, rise…
And remember, in order to truly grow we must receive… all the light available, all of the water and nurture we can find, and drink it in readily with intention and most importantly, deserving.
In order to truly grow, we must let go, of old soil and dirt that holds no nutrients.
In order to truly grow, we must decide to.
We must break through hard shells of comforting seed husk and brave to wave our vulnerable new shoots above the parapet for the world to see.
April is life. It is bloom-time.
Tilt your beautiful face to the light, my loves,
and on we grow…
(Why not choose your word that will accompany you throughout this month and proclaim it below. As we do in my journalling group. Stitch it to the fabric of universe.
Mine is bloom, what is yours?
Here are a few suggestions
Rise…bloom…joy….light…hope…growth…abundance…life…)
