Suburban Starseed Just Mel xo

12/06/2025

A short video of the Women's League of Health and Beauty founded in 1930. Years down the line it changed to FLexercise. I covered the FLexercise course in lockdown but they definitely have updated their workout routines since the 1930’s 😄.
It also differs between modern instructors. A lot of them offer yoga/ Pilates/ general exercise to music to improve rhythm, .... Others also bring in “step to the beat” like we do, working with slightly more “dancy” choreographies as part of the class.
I am not part of FLexercise anymore but I still implement the yoga/ Pilates/ general exercise inspired movement, just not to music. I prefer to be on the mat without having to focus on a beat as well.

However, we implement some of the “Step To the Beat” practicing choreographies to improve rhythm, add to our daily steps, coordination, balance, ... and just fun 💃🏼.
Right now, we are also playing with PureStretch (also Pilates/ yoga inspired without being classical/ traditional) choreographies on the mat and then add Step To The Beat at the end.

I play and draw inspiration from different practices that complement each other, so the easiest definition is simply:

On the Mat: inspired by different styles of yoga, Pilates, ... 🧘🏼‍♀️
On the Mat +: as above, plus Step To The Beat 💃🏼

For my ladies in class, let’s talk about our future goals:
A) outfit coordination 👯‍♂️
B) coordination in general for future performances for others 👯‍♂️👯‍♂️👯‍♂️

What are we thinking? NO SWEARING 😆!!!!
Just kidding. I would find it quite boring if it was that regimental 🥱.

GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS)To license this film, visit https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVABKSK1QLVT3HKT93OWFA7LR1KQ-WOMENS-LEAGUE-OF-HEALTH-AND-BE...

21/04/2025

Spending the morning with Dolly and Bublé to practice our - Step To The Beat - section for next term. Crushing it 😄 until my mind goes blank and I freeze again midair 🫣. Good thing my ladies have a sense of humour 😜.

The Step To The Beat section is only part of On The Mat > Fusion on Wednesday’s in Strensham and Friday’s at the Wheatpieces.

Stay active!
Mel

21/04/2025

On The Mat & On The Mat > Fusion

Gentle/ accessible movement INSPIRED by yoga, Pilates and other systems that complement each other. Fusion has an added bonus of: Step To The Beat.

Wheatpieces Community Centre/ Strensham Hall
Vintage Vixens (50+)
Small classes
Accessible (modifications & chair options are offered)
Light-hearted - playful – outside the box
Social
NON traditional - NON classical - NO acrobatics - NO hardcore fitness
OTM are small classes with focus on body & mind creating a relaxed atmosphere for Vintage Vixens with different abilities. We take it at a slower pace not because we have to but because we want to. Classes are purposely kept lower in numbers making them more accessible for those that don't like big groups. We are a friendly bunch that welcome new faces.
These are NOT drop in classes so signing up is essential. Please contact me directly for more information or visit my website. https://justmelxo.weebly.com Thank you!

One space available in each class. The next term is only 4 weeks long so an ideal time to give it a whirl.

Strensham Hall
On The Mat > Fusion:
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: 30.04. - 21.05.
Time: 09.30 - 10.30

Wheatpieces Community Centre:
On The Mat > Fusion:
Day: Fridays
Dates: 02.05. - 23.05.
Time: 09.00 - 10.00

Wheatpieces Community Centre:
On The Mat:
Day: Saturdays
Dates: 03.05. - 24.05.
Time: 08.45 - 09.45

See you on the mat!
Mel

26/10/2024

On The Mat
stretch ~ flex ~ relax

Gentle/ accessible movement INSPIRED by yoga, Pilates and other systems that complement each other.

Wheatpieces Community Centre/ Strensham Hall

Vintage Vixens (50+)
Small classes
Accessible (modifications & chair options are offered)
Light-hearted - playful – outside the box
Social
NON traditional - NON classical - NO acrobatics - NO hardcore fitness

OTM are small classes with focus on body & mind creating a relaxed atmosphere for Vintage Vixens with different abilities. We take it at a slower pace not because we have to but because we want to. Classes are purposely kept lower in numbers making them more accessible for those that don't like big groups. We are a friendly bunch that welcome new faces.

These are NOT drop in classes so signing up is essential. Please contact me directly for more information or visit my website. https://justmelxo.weebly.com Thank you!

On The Mat:
Where: Strensham Hall
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: 06.11. - 11.12.
Time: 09.30 - 10.30

On The Mat & Chair wrist/ knee friendly:
Where: Wheatpieces Community Centre
Day: Fridays
Dates: 08.11. - 13.12.
Time: 09.00 - 10.00

On The Mat:
Where: Wheatpieces Community Centre
Day: Saturdays
Dates: 09.11. - 14.12.
Time: 08.45 - 09.45

See you on the mat!
Mel

31/08/2024

I received this in my inbox yesterday and had to smile (see link at the end). There is me thinking I was such a rebel on the mat 🤪, I am always behind, never trendy, … but these are things I have been doing/ not been doing for years so it is good to see that is starting to be a thing.

In a nutshell:

1. Creating a different sequence each class.
Nope. I start a term with a plan and then play with it. Each week some element might change, week after, week after, … but there is always familiarity with something new added.

2. Requiring each cue to be anatomically accurate.
Nope. Minimal rather than overload and what makes sense to the person in front of me.

3. Adhering to old alignment rules.
Nope. What works for my body, might not feel good in your body. I don’t believe in fitting the shape/ posture but the shape/ posture needs to fit you as an individual. Your knee flexion is different than mine. Your foot turns out differently than mine. Your … Although we are aiming to create a certain shape, this shape will look different on each of us.

4. Automatically offering hands-on assists.
NOOOOOO! Your body, your practice. I demonstrate and talk you through it and usually that is enough. However, IF there is (which HARDLY EVER happens) a time where a lady still might not focus on the area that we are trying to address, then I ask for permission so simply place my hand in the area we focus on. There is an AHA moment and I walk away. I NEVER just automatically walk around and “adjust” or “deepen” a pose by pushing you into it. No! No! No!

5. Spending hours making an evocative playlist for each class.
Nope! I play the same license free stuff quietly in the background as the music is not the focus point. It is just a little bit background music which is nice to have.

6.Believing that longer practices are better than shorter ones.
Nope! For me I think consistency and sustainability are the key for my own practice. A little bit daily is better than once a week for 90 minutes. Do what you can when you can.

7. Basing my perceived value on class attendance.
Nope! I have been focusing on small classes for years. It is a completely different atmosphere. It is more social and I don’t run classes where you are just expected to keep up or modify (if you know how to). I SEE YOU and then try and give you options that work for you. Perks of small classes.

8. Shying away from mentioning mental health.
I have not really looked into these aspects too much. I don’t have the right background for that. I like to think that I offer an environment where ladies feel less anxious due to not being in large classes. It can be very overwhelming for those that consider themselves (I speak from experience) HSP, introverts, socially awkward, struggle with anxiety, … so I like to think that I try and be more supportive. Meet them where they are in body, mind and spirit. And if all you do on the mat today is – just breath – then do that.

9. Trying to teach “like everyone else”
Nope! I do my own thing on the mat and like to fuse systems that complement each other. I guess I might be considered marmite, but so is every other instructor. You just need to find the one that fits your taste. Although I have noticed that a lot of instructors fuse these days so I guess I am more like others now, but I still have my own quirks.

10. Taking Photos or videos while my students are in savasana.
Hm, I guess we all have done it probably to use them on the website, … but NEVER without permission.

11. Ending classes with “Namaste”
Nope! Never have done and never will in my classes. However, if I am taking part in a class and the teacher says Namaste then I will respond to it out of curtesy.

That was fun 😁!

After leading literally thousands of classes, these yoga teachers no longer teach or prepare in these common practices.

30/08/2024

On The Mat - Gentle (Dru) Yoga Fusion

Vintage Vixens (50+)
Small classes in a big hall so you have got space
Accessible (modifications & chair options are offered)
Light-hearted & playful
Social
NON traditional - NO acrobatics – NO hardcore fitness

Where:
Wheatpieces Community Centre
Day: Fridays
Dates: 06.09. - 18.10.
Time: 09.00 - 10.00
The Friday class is more knee/ wrist friendly

Day: Saturdays
Dates: 07.09. - 19.10.
Time: 08.45 - 09.45

We also have a Strensham class in a smaller hall:
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: 11.09. - 16.10.
Time: 09.30 - 10.30

These are NOT drop in classes and signing up for the term is essential. Please contact me directly if you would like to sign up or have any other questions.

More information can be found on website:
https://justmelxo.weebly.com/
Or visit my page:
https://www.facebook.com/just.mel.xo

See you on the mat!
Mel

18/08/2024

Good morning beYOUtiful souls 🦋!

Summer is ticking away and it is time again to start class preparations for the AUTUMN term. Who doesn’t like autumn 🍂?
Would you like to join us On The Mat 🧘‍♀️ for the coming term?

On The Mat are more gentle and accessible classes geared towards Vintage Vixens 🥰 that prefer a slower pace, smaller classes and a social aspect because giggles lift the spirit.

In a nutshell:
NO acrobatics & NO hardcore fitness
Move ~ Breathe ~ Relax
Ladies, 50+
Small classes
Not traditional but simply INSPIRED by Yoga, …
Light-hearted, playful and outside the box
…

The beauty of a small class is the focus on the participants. There is no one-posture-fits-all so I will try my best to give you options that will make it more accessible for your abilities, even if that requires a chair at times.

The Friday class is more knee and wrist friendly!!!!!!
Although we will get on our knees and wrists, it is more used as a transition to get on and off the floor. This needs to be practised as we get older the same as balance, coordination, mobility, strength, … However, a chair will always be there as an option, and sometimes we use chairs anyway.

Where: Wheatpieces Community Centre
Day: Fridays
Dates: 06.09. - 18.10.
Time: 09.00 - 10.00

The Wednesday and Saturday class will be more on knees and wrists but even here options can be found 😊.

Where: Wheatpieces Community Centre
Day: Saturdays
Dates: 07.09. - 19.10.
Time: 08.45 - 09.45

Strensham Hall:
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: 04.09. - 16.10.
Time: 09.30 - 10.30

Please contact me before signing up to see if my On The Mat classes are right for you, or if you have any other questions. The first step can often be the hardest especially for those that have felt uncomfortable in other classes before. Let’s see if we can turn your negative experience into something more positive 🙃.

These are NOT drop in classes so signing up for the term is essential. Please contact me directly. More information can also be found on my website: https://justmelxo.weebly.com/

See you on the mat 🧘‍♀️!
Mel

25/05/2024

Half-term break and then we are back 😊.

Ladies 50 + only 🌸
SMALL classes 🙃
Accessible 🦋
Light-hearted 🥰
Social 😉

Please contact me directly if you would like to take part as these are NOT drop-in classes.

The dates for next term:

Where: Strensham
What: On The Mat
When: Wednesdays 05.06. – 17.07.
Time: 09.30 – 10.30

Where: Wheatpieces
What: Walk/ Tone/ Stretch/ Play
When: Fridays 07.06. – 19.07.
Time: 09.00 – 10.00

Where: Wheatpieces
What: On The Mat
When: Saturdays 08.06. – 20.07.
Time: 08.45 – 09.45

Please visit my website for more information. Thank you!
Mel

14/05/2024

No Pain No Gain slipped into my way of moving about 18 years ago. It didn't last long. Never worked well for my body, mind and spirit.
Since then I am on an ongoing journey to ease and soften my practice to create consistency and sustainability. It's a journey of trial and error. Dropping textbook alignments and precision and replace it with play and exploration.

I know, I am such a rebel 🤪

12/05/2024

If you are looking for fancy poses, then you have come to the wrong place 😄. Instead we focus on movement on the mat that is more accessible for the rest of us.
No handstands required.
It doesn’t matter if you can’t touch your toes with straight legs - EVER.
If you are not comfortable sitting on the floor, then sit on a chair. ..
There is no one size fits all practice. Nourishing our body, mind and spirt comes in different forms and it is a journey to find out what our individual fit is. Enjoy the journey and move on if it doesn’t nourish you. Be kind to yourself.

PS: There is NOTHING wrong with fancy poses, but I never felt drawn to them and they are simply not for everybody/ every body.

05/05/2024

My own practice On The Mat this morning included these little balls and possibly a lot of swearing 😳. Tension release is no fun, but neither is jaw clenching at night creating tension through the whole body 🙄.

And BBBRRREEEAAATTTHHHEEE!!!!

05/05/2024

Good morning beYOUtiful souls ✨️

Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend 🌸 Maybe you get some rest in to recharge your batteries 🔋.