Body Positive Health & Fitness | Sport & fitness instruction

Body Positive Health & Fitness

Phone: +61 435 129 332

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25.01.2022 The lastest silly ad I'm getting on Facebook is asking me "what if you found a natural alternative to expensive anti-aging creams?" and is selling a program of freaking FACE exercises, dressed up as yoga (ahhh yes, the great spiritual practice of "toning up"), that, based on a bunch of hogwash, promise to stop skin from sagging/wrinkling. But the good news is, I *have* found a natural alternative to expensive anti-aging creams. It's called rejecting ageist beauty standards, and working towards a world that values people of all ages. And it's free

22.01.2022 I'm really loving having these little gentle movement breaks in community, so I've added more times and days, and it's still free. While we're in stage 4, let's move together. All welcome. Simply message me for the zoom link (so I don't get zoombombers). All you'll need is a chair (any kind). Monday to Friday, 11.50am and 6pm Melbourne (Australia) time - but you're welcome to join from anywhere. Please enter the zoom "room" one or two mins before the session and put yourself... on mute if you're somewhere noisy. The movement we do is very, very gentle, just a nice way to refresh and come back to our bodies for a few minutes. As always please seek guidance from an appropriate allied health professional or medical practitioner prior to undertaking exercise.

22.01.2022 Yay I am feeling better! Free 5 minute gentle movement/wiggle sessions are back up and running today. 11.50am and 6pm Mon to Friday during Melbourne's stage 4 lockdown. DM for the zoom link

21.01.2022 While Melbourne is in Stage 4 lockdown, I'm offering 5 minutes of pleasant, very gentle movement (think stretching and wiggling) over zoom to refresh us for the rest of the day. It's free, absolutely no fitness level is needed and all bodies are welcome. It will be very informal so you can turn up in trackies, PJs, your fancy work clothes, you can do it while you eat lunch, you can choose to turn your camera off, whatever you like. All you will need is a chair (any kind). As... always please seek guidance from an appropriate allied health professional or medical practitioner prior to undertaking exercise. Please be in the zoom "room" one or two minutes before start time Updated times and days: 11.50am and 6pm Melbourne (Australia) time Monday to Friday Simply message me and I'll send you the zoom link - it's the same one every time - just don't want to post it on a public page Feel free to share with anyone who may enjoy it - you don't have to be from Melbourne to join x

21.01.2022 Did this interview with Jess from The Body Positive recently and loved the questions https://www.thebodypositive.com.au//wdxn0whqd3u7ifk6ux28i6

21.01.2022 Haven't said it for a while but since those ads are returning to my feed, here it is: I think I get the appeal of the x week weight loss challenges, especially after a year like this when it feels like maybe we could get one thing under control in a clearly defined amount of time. The truth is though, that short term weight loss is very possible, but comes with a number of mental and physical health risks, including worsening your relationship with food and your body, and the... truth is also that only a very small percentage of people are able to sustain that weight loss. If you aren't one of those unicorns, what happens then? How will you feel? It's true that society treats people in larger bodies worse than people in smaller bodies and I think we have to acknowledge that. Of course no one wants to be stigmatised. Of course no one should be. I don't want to minimise the appeal of being in a body that gets approval and praise, that has easier access to clothing and seating and proper medical care and less discrimination in the workplace. I don't want to pretend to know what it's like to live in a body that society does not accommodate and I don't want to minimise how painful that could be. And... we still don't have evidence of any lifestyle interventions that will achieve long term weight loss for the majority of people. Most of our personal experiences will bear that out too. And... weight loss attempts are not without risks and those risks should be disclosed by anyone encouraging weight loss attempts. And... bloody hell the world needs to change. In the mean time, if your relationship to your body feels like it could be better, please notice that with compassion and seek the support of a mental health professional, and if you're struggling with your relationship with food and eating, please reach out to a Non Diet dietitian. Feel free to PM me for resources.

21.01.2022 In case you've seen a particularly irresponsible article that's doing the rounds, let me please make it clear that taking rest days from training not only allows you to have a good life balance, it also lets you recover properly so that beneficial physiological processes can occur and you can get the most out of your training. Professional athletes, who are paid to perform well, take rest days. They aren't out there training hard seven days a week. If you are finding taking rest days challenging or guilt-inducing, NO MATTER YOUR SIZE, that's a good sign that it's time to reach out for some mental health support around your relationship with physical activity.

19.01.2022 No 5 minute wiggle class tonight because I've got a big old headache (and while sometimes movement is the key, sometimes rest is just what we need). Look forward to wiggling with everyone next week (and normal classes as normal tomorrow) x

19.01.2022 I've been seeing a few "iso body challenges" advertised in my feed and while I can understand some of the reasons such a thing might feel tempting in the face of uncertainty, fear and upheaval, I'd like to gently offer some alternative questions you might like to ask yourself: *how can I use movement to support my wellbeing over the next few weeks? *what support do I need in order to nourish my body well and enjoy eating? *at a time when I'm feeling stressed and anxious, is focussing on what my body looks like likely to be helpful for me? *if I made my decisions about my physical activity and eating from a place of self compassion, what would they look like?

18.01.2022 Quick note: while outdoor 1:1 and 1:2 training is still permitted under the current Melbourne lockdown, boxing padholding is not as it's impossible to maintain 1.5m social distance. For those clients who do boxing with me we've managed by shadowboxing technique drills, having people use a home boxing bag over zoom or cross training other exercises that will help their boxing when we get back to it. I miss holding pads but community health comes first. Thanks for bearing with me

17.01.2022 We might not all have the potential make it to the Olympics, but very few of us have reached the ceiling on the level of athleticism we could achieve with the body we have. There's no obligation to reach that ceiling, of course, but sometimes it's nice to know that with training, if we want to, there is the potential for greater ease of movement, even without changing our posture or our size or what have you.

17.01.2022 Joyful movement idea:

16.01.2022 If you've been thinking of joining my Saturday group class, I'm pleased to announce that from next week (7 November) we are back in person at 8.30am in Elwood, AND there will be an online class at 3pm We have a great group of supportive people - all ages and genders are welcome - and everything is done so that you can go at your own pace but be challenged when you want to be. We keep the time in the group class free of weight loss/weight gain/diet/negative body chat. (Covi...d has brought up a lot of body distress for a lot of people - if you're struggling, please reach out to me (outside of class) so I can refer you to some good support) Additionally, if like many of us your fitness levels have dropped over lockdown, please know that you'll still be able to participate in the classes as there will be options galore, and taking rests as required is an encouraged part of the class (modelling listening to your body is a kindness to everyone!). If you think you'd like to join us, simply send me a private message with your email address and I'll email you all the information plus a form to fill out if you decide you'd like to go ahead.

16.01.2022 Honestly if you want a health app, the SunSmart* app will alert you when the UV is high enough to require sunscreen/sun protection. Currently in Melbourne it's often from 9am It'll also show you the UV level in real time rather than just the forecast. We don't harp on at white celebrities for glorifying sun exposure when they have a tan, and I certainly don't wish for skin cancer prevention to become another pseudo moralistic thing, but it's worth noting how differently it's approached to the way we approach food and exercise health behaviours. It's *almost* like our faux concern for people's health is really about what people look like *this is an Australian app, I'm not sure what's available in other countries. Also not a sponsored post. It's just a really useful app!

16.01.2022 Edit: oops! Boxing day, not tomorrow! Group fitness is still happening on boxing day for anyone not partaking in Christmas, or for anyone whose hangover/post Christmas exhaustion isn't too bad. Expectations of energy levels will be very low so no need to bring your A game, you can totally just roll up and do some stretches and have a chat if you like (but also very happy to supply a high energy workout to anyone who wants one - and anything in between)

14.01.2022 Hello! No wiggle class tonight or tomorrow (taking some recharge time) - see you on Thursday x

14.01.2022 If it feels like your movement practice got a bit derailed by all the mental health challenges of lockdown (or by anything else at all), please know that that's ok - you can pick back up whenever you're feeling ready. You might go back to the same things, or choose different activities or different intensities or amounts of time. Your movement practice can change and pause and bend and grow - it's not a fixed thing, and neither are you.

14.01.2022 Some advertisers might use their bodies to imply otherwise, but healing your relationship with food won't make everyone slim, and neither will getting fit. Body diversity is normal. Intuitive Eating isn't a weight loss plan. Neither is the Non Diet approach. You can't tell how someone eats or moves by the size of their body. Keep a critical eye on the subtext of the ads you see - diets aren't cool anymore so they have to pretend not to be diets. But even without the overt fatshaming, weight loss marketing is still relying on weight stigma and body privilege, rather than asking us to question whether they align with our values.

14.01.2022 Melbourne joggers: I just did a trial run (ha ha) of jogging with a mask on and I found it fine, in fact quite nice for warming up the cold air before it hit my lungs - although I don't wear glasses - BUT it got wet as heck from the puffing so if you give it a go, keep a spare or two in your pocket to change over and for the way home x

13.01.2022 Posting bikini pics to prove you're "in good health" makes as much sense as posting hat pics to prove you're smart (Not giving airtime to bad celebrities so let's treat it as a blanket statement)

12.01.2022 Trying to demonstrate mat exercises on Zoom like...

10.01.2022 The bad news: Melbourne is in Stage 4 lockdown for another two weeks The good news: another two weeks of free 11.50am and 6pm movement breaks Mon-Fri (except no evening session for 23, 24 and 25 September - the final session will be 11:50am on the 25th)

08.01.2022 I'm a personal trainer not because I think everyone should be fitter than they are, but because I want to *invite* people to experience how good fitness training can feel when it's done as a form of self care and play. I am not here to judge people for their body shape, their fitness level, their health or their daily activities, but to respect those things enough to factor them into the ideas I put together for them. My body is not my business card. My own fitness level is n...ot my business card. People who think it is or should be probably be aren't looking for what I'm offering and that's OK. I'm not here to change how people look. I'm here to change how people feel. And right now I am feeling SO grateful for all the people who have invited me to be a part of their discovery process.

06.01.2022 Once at a speaking panel, someone asked if as a trainer, I don't do weight loss or aesthetics, what do I DO? Well, everything else. Help people get strong enough to get up and down from the floor without pressure on their knees Help people increase their deadlift Help people get into running... Help people enjoy moving in different and fun ways Help people get their cardio up enough to qualify for state squad selection in their sport Help people win a gumboot throwing competition Help people exercise enough to manage their health conditions Help people go for regular walks Help people do their first pushup Help people learn to throw really hard punches Help people PB their max chinups Help people be more steady on one leg Help people to stay strong as they age These are just a few examples from current and former clients, all with a weight inclusive approach. It's a really rewarding way to practise.

06.01.2022 Feeling a bit anxious about the future so I bought some seeds to plant. Good to have some loveliness to look forward to. What activities have you found helpful for keeping your spirits up/coping?

05.01.2022 Accidentally missed my own birthday! This little business turned seven on June 22 :) Training people and talking about movement and bodies is still my favourite thing to do and I'm thankful for everyone who has joined me over the years, whether in person, online (this is my first year offering sessions over Zoom and it's been swell!) or right here on my page. Thank you!

05.01.2022 Let's all appreciate the athleticism of chasing down a family of wild boars while naked in order to (successfully) retrieve a laptop via Angry People in Local Newspapers https://www.theguardian.com//german-nudist-chases-wild-boa

04.01.2022 Miss Eaves Not sure why FB wasn't letting me share direct from her post, but she writes: "Ever Since I was 13 people have asked me if I am pregnant. This caused me to be extremely ashamed of my body/belly and try everything in my power to eliminate it (HELLO AB ROLLER!) I want to live in a world where everyone feels freeeven joyousexpressing themselves genuinely, being truly comfortable in their bodies and minds just exactly as they are today. My original goal for Be...lly Bounce was to show a comprehensive peak of people celebrating their own bodies and finding moments of real joy, which is especially harder to do and yet all the more important while we make our way through today’s current events and shelter in place. . Since beginning the production of this song and its video, the world has witnessed and responded to the brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless black victims of police violence. I decided to delay its release until the timing felt more appropriate, as the real focus of this time should be fighting a criminal justice system that refuses to acknowledge the value of Black lives. The last thing that I wanted my music to do was to clutter the online channels which are raising awareness and disseminate important information to our communities to create positive change. All of this being said and remaining so true, I know as a lifelong activist that activist fatigue is very real, and it is important during times of resistance for us to take small breaks for relief, release, joy, self care and to celebrate our victories. I sincerely hope that releasing this positive message into the world at this moment will provide the moment of happiness, acceptance and self care that we all need so that we can sustainably continue fighting."

04.01.2022 My beloved Saturday morning group class is on zoom during this covid lockdown, so if you're a bit further away and want to join us, you can

04.01.2022 I love Reductress https://www.facebook.com/198448180295255/posts/1986706674802721/

03.01.2022 Update: Online group fitness is now at 10.45am Melbourne time on Saturdays. If you live a bit far from me or just don't want to leave your loungeroom, but do want some fun movement where you can go at the pace that's right for you, please join us on Zoom (In person classes are 8.30am Saturdays and 7am Wednesdays)

02.01.2022 Not being in "perfect" health isn't an indication that you're not taking care of yourself properly AND taking care of yourself is still worthwhile* even if though it's not going to magically give you "perfect" health. * as always, your body, your choice - from whether or how you decide to engage in healthy behaviours to what that means for you [Image text reads: healthy habits don't guarantee any of us perfect health. Feeling pain, getting sick and dying are all part of being human. What they do is help us manage our health conditions, minimise (but not eliminate) some health risks and maximise the health and quality of life that we are able to access where we are right now.]

01.01.2022 Sorry... one more day before wiggle class resumes. Feeling (physically) lousy! See you all tomorrow