Our session will be a mix of movement – Pilates and gentle stretching, and mindfulness – meditation and a yoga nidra – deep rest practice. We’re celebrating winter in our session, which will resonate throughout our morning together – giving us the chance to sink into this season, and all it has to offer.
We gather together and experience the quiet, solitude of winter, and honour the hibernation and rest phase of the year. Understanding the balance between the light and the dark that creates such a rich opening for spring, and from the deepest of winter the light will begin to return.
Our theme for this event is restoring some peace and tranquility after the exertions around Christmas and to draw back our energies as we start the New Year. We will be creating some space for the breath with a focus on strengthening and stretching the mind and body.
Energising Strength & stretch class- This class provided energising sequences using the whole body movements and resistance bands to combine both pilates strengthening work with dynamic stretching. the perfect combination of strength work, mobilising, and stretching.
Lifting our body, mind and spirits and focusing on the opportunities we can give our bodies and minds in 2024.
This session is suitable for both beginners and those with more exercise experience. If you have any mobility or injury needs please discuss these prior to the class and modifications will be offered. Due to the nature of some of the exercises in the classes they are not suitable for women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Our morning will be held on Sunday 28th January, from 10am-1pm. During the morning there will be a break for hot drinks and home-made snacks (provided). The cost of the morning is £30 / £24 for concessions (those in receipt of their pension / students / on lower incomes). We have two reduced rate places at £20, for anyone who could not otherwise afford to come along. Please pick the price that best reflects your circumstances.
Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk
About your facilitators
Gillian Booth
Gillian Booth from Acorepilates in Glasgow qualified as a mat Pilates with the Pilates Foundation 6 years ago and is passionate about all things in movement, health and well-being. Having practiced in Pilates over the last 16 years she knows the benefits it can bring to our busy and stressful lives. Through practicing the 6 principles established by Joseph Pilates in 1945 of Breath, Concentration, Centring, Control, Precision and Flow she offers classes that are both energising and restorative to the body. Stretching exercises are always incorporated into her classes to promote longer term flexibility and range of motion, preparing the body for relaxation and reducing stress levels.
Gillian says “In today’s world we are surrounded by the belief that we need to push our bodies hard through exercise to achieve results, which often places unrealistic and unachievable expectations on us. I believe that through a balanced approach that incorporates regular whole-body movement, valuing connection with the mind and being outside with nature to be more sustainable longer term.”
Expect classes to help develop toning of the body, lengthening of muscles and strengthening of the core. Above all you should feel refreshed and stretched ready for whatever awaits the rest of your day. “Always remember when you’re on your mat everything is better”.
Susie Hooper
Susie worked as a Social Worker for 20 years and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe in Bonnybridge - bringing people together in community.
Susie says: “I discovered mindfulness through my work as a Social Worker – we introduced it to clients, and I realised what a great practice it was. When I first started to practice, I found it so difficult to work out what I was feeling, and I was really cut off from my body – not really picking up on any of the messages my body was giving me about how I was. I had bad IBS, got lots of colds and generally felt under the weather a lot.
Through practicing mindfulness, I gradually started to be able to tune into my body more – to hear what it was telling me about how I was feeling. Doing this encouraged me to make major changes in my life – I left a marriage which was unhappy and focused more on my self-care. My IBS is now under control, I’m generally a lot healthier physically and I have more understanding of my emotions. I’m less reactive to emotions like anger and anxiety – generally feeling a lot more in balance. And I’m so much nicer to myself! Less of the inner critic, which had been so pervasive. And I’m now in a marriage which is happier, and in which I feel I can really be me.”