The Blog
Breathworks - relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring well-being
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Below are testimonials of people who have attended Zélie's courses recently:
I have been suffering with pain for a very long time. I cut back on my activities and my life seemed to be consumed by pain. With no specific answers, I started on a downward decline. I blamed myself and life, at times, seemed unbearable. I distanced myself from my family and friends and felt very isolated. I was constantly searching for answers and asking is this it for me?
Zélie was recommended to me by my osteopath. It was difficult for me to think positively but I connected with Zélie straight away. I felt like I’d found someone at last who understood what it’s like. I found the course enlightening but also sometimes difficult because I had fought my pain and buried my emotions, and the thought of being kind to myself, and learning acceptance and compassion for the pain was alien to me. But as I progressed, becoming more aware of my thoughts and reactions, I started to look and think differently. During the meditations I was surprised by my positive thoughts! Each session I’ve taken on board a new tool to help me to live a happier life.
I felt so comfortable and at ease with Zélie. She helped me to understand the reason for my suffering and how damaging it can be. I feel more positive and my family have noticed. The negative signals still pop up occasionally on my bad days, but now I know how to deal with them.
I look at things so differently and have learned how to take pleasure in the small things in life. I can actually take it easy on myself! I had a particularly happy day recently and realised that I hadn’t felt like that in years!
I would urge anyone suffering from chronic pain, stress and anxiety to try mindfulness with Zélie. I could not have imagined that after two months of working with her I would be feeling as I do now!
KWEM
I have suffered lower back pain for over 30 years and it had begun to completely take over my life. No holidays, rarely stopping away from home and becoming reliant on drugs, injections and anything else that promised some relief.
The constant boom and bust of each episode was ruling my life, my mind set was getting ever more negative and I was resigned to this being it for the remainder of my life.
A physio recommended Zélie and 8 sessions later I have improved beyond recognition. Just ask my long suffering wife who says I am a changed man!
Zélie has been through the process and is so empathic, professional and puts so much effort in.
I urge anyone to do this. It enhanced my life, giving me back my confidence and reducing the need for copious drugs, belts, injections and creams of all description.
You owe it to yourself to give it a go and this testimonial gives me one more chance to thank Zélie who has truly improved me as a person and dramatically changed my thought processes towards my condition.
CD
The course has enabled me to tune into my body, to acknowledge unhelpful, negative thoughts, and to allow them to become less insistent through mindfulness. I would definitely recommend this course which is accessible and easy to understand.
JM
Zélie is a natural, approachable and empathetic teacher and her voice for guided meditations is spot on. I feel much less stressed at work and honestly feel this course has changed my life. First class materials, and a cosy, comfortable venue. Great tea and cakes too!
SQ
The course has been excellent at teaching me techniques I can use to handle my big problem with anxiety and stress. Zélie was very empathetic and her teaching is of a very high standard. Thank you, Zélie!
PH
For thirty years I thought my pain was in my body, and now I know my brain and mind play a big part too. It helped that Zélie lives with chronic pain and I felt she really understood what I was going through. The course was extremely useful in helping me to understand and manage my pain better. I would recommend it.
JW
For more about Breathworks go to www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk
Happy New Year!
Whether your New Year’s Resolution is to break off the relationship with your sofa or to win an Iron Man, Back into Action can help you achieve your goals.
We have a fabulous team of experienced physiotherapists who can help you feel tip top as you embark on 2018. So often we meet people who put up with their aches and pains – accepting them as part of life – but you don’t have to! Don’t let a small niggle develop into a real problem, come and see us sooner rather than later and we can nip that niggle in the bud 
In addition to our fab physios, Kim Owen specialises in swim coaching, Charlie Iles can offer private PT sessions – or join one of her new circuits sessions, Holly Derrick offers a mean sports massage, we have Pilates classes running throughout the week (day and evening - all physio led) and you can book 1 to 1 sessions with Angela Hardie on the reformer. James Clapp offers a bespoke Bike Fit service and Laura Collins can analyse your running technique – both for injury prevention and improved times.
Please do give us a call on 01684 772 192 or drop us a line at physio@backintoaction.co.uk
Why Pilates? Why APPI?
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| Thanks to Nicky Patrick Dressage for tolerating a couple of snaps! | |
Good questions!! Hopefully this blog will help to answer some of the queries and questions frequently raised on this subject.
Before addressing why, WHAT is Pilates?!
Pilates is a low impact mindful form of exercise that focuses on postural alignment, core strength, flexibility and muscle balance. Pilates helps you to build an increased awareness of your body and your control over it! There is a strong emphasis on form – i.e. “how” you perform the exercises.
Pilates is different from Yoga, in very basic terms Yoga focuses more on dynamic stretching and often classes have a considerable spiritual element. That said they do have some similarities and undoubtedly complement one another.
You may well have noticed that there are now a wide variety of Pilates classes available. All Pilates is based on the exercise regime that Joseph Pilate’s developed in the mid 1900’s.
Classical Pilates looks to preserve what Joseph taught in its purest form – closely following the original movements that he devised.
Contemporary Pilates has the advantage (in our view) of continually updating the original form of Pilates with advances in medical, anatomical and physiological knowledge.
Clinical Pilates could be considered a subset of Contemporary Pilates – and this is the form of Pilates taught and promoted by the APPI (Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute), with whom all of our physios have trained. There is a strong focus on current research, particularly with regard to stabilisation muscles and their relationship with back pain.
The APPI was founded by 2 physios – one a dancer and the other a triathlete. They took the “classical” repertoire of exercises and broke them down, modified them, and made them suitable for everyone – including those in need of rehabilitation. There is a strong focus on “neutral” positioning of the spine and pelvis, along with low level sustainable activation of the deep postural muscles. The aim being that what you learn in class you transfer (consciously and subconsciously!) straight into all your everyday activities.
So I am sure you already have the gist of “Why Pilates?” and “Why APPI?” – we feel that absolutely everyone should do Pilates – an hour (or maybe 2!) of mindful exercise to improve your posture, how your body feels and moves, promoting balance, strength and helping to keep you injury free – has got to be a good thing!!!
Our matwork classes are suitable for absolutely anyone – whether you wish to improve your triathlon times or if you would just like to negotiate your staircase into your nineties – we only have 10 people in each class so that we can keep a close eye on you and make sure you get the most out of the class.
We use a range of small equipment to keep the classes varied and our clients challenged. We do ask that everyone comes for a 1 to 1 session before joining a class and if you feel that 1 to 1 (or 1 to 2) sessions would be more your cup of tea as opposed to joining a class, we can arrange this for you.
We also have a reformer and chair (pieces of Pilates equipment) at Back into Action – but that’s a whole other story (blog)!!
If you are at all interested, have any queries or questions please do drop us a line or give us a call…
Physio and Pilates for Runners
The number of people running is always increasing – which is great news – but whether you are a seasoned pro or a social jogger, the stats show that there is a fine balance between progressive training and avoiding injury.
This is not a suggestion to stop running!!! But we would urge you to consider your running on a deeper level!
So how do you keep running and avoid injury? Glen suggests the answer is multifactorial – considering “Correct running form”, “Running Load” and “Imbalances in the bodies muscle system”.
For the full article click here.
To address each of those factors a good start is to consider your awareness of your body, how it moves, and your ability to influence/control movement.
Here comes the advertising……..our lovely physio Laura Collins has just completed a course on the “Functional Biomechanics of Running”. The course focused on gait and running analysis, re education and injury prevention. Identifying previous injuries or mechanisms which affect running style and addressing them through dynamic and functional activation exercise to correct running technique.
We already ready treat a high number of clients who have experienced running related problems and all of our physios are experienced in this area.
In addition to the services our fab physios can offer, there is now evidence to support the theory that Pilates can help decrease injury in runners - great news!!
We run both day time and evening Pilates classes here at Back Into Action, all instructors are qualified physiotherapists who have trained with the APPI.
For class times and more information please click here.
If you would like to join a class, or to book an appointment please call us on 01684 772 192 or email us at physio@backintoaction.co.uk
Lionesses Hockey with Laura Collins
Our very own lovely Laura (ex national and international hockey player) gave a bit back to the younger community at the Lionesses hockey weekend and Back into Action were thrilled to provide a little sponsorship to the event as well.
The Lionesses is an ambassadorship to promote sport, particularly hockey and to play with the right attitude, be part of a team and enjoy the game you love no matter what age, standard, ability you are.
A great attitude for life what ever your sport/activity/challenge!
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