The Mock Turtle

20 min climb class this morning on the peloton - it was hard and I had to drop the suggested resistance to get to the end. I am not built for the (fake) mountains ;)

30 min Body Step after work today (119)

May I ask you all a stupid question? When you are exercising, does it matter if your breathing is back to front? I am doing some strengthening exercises (very basic, but they are helping) and he keeps saying breath out when doing x and in doing y, and I'm never doing it right. When I try to think about it, it's like rubbing my tummy and patting my head, and the exercises go wrong. I can't believe it makes a huge difference, but maybe it does.

I have that same problem with Pilates breathing Morgs, it feels quite contrary to my usual breathing pattern. I think it's about trying to help you to hold your core muscles in the correct way so that you train them into the desired conformation, but I'm never really very sure.

I will be reattempting this again at Pilates this evening.

It’s usually a case of exhale on the effort. Otherwise just don’t forget to actually breathe.

I get Pilates breathing the wrong way round as well - it’s odd as I have no trouble with breathing in yoga and it feels very natural with the movement, eg in the Sun salutations.

Ah. Thanks everyone. I'm pleased it's not just me. It feels like I can't even breathe properly .

I always do it the wrong way round too when doing stuff like that but have no idea if it’s okay or not. Helpful I know.

Before Christmas, I posted on one of the daily threads that I’d been diagnosed with arthritis in both knees. Turns out- after MRI scans which confirmed there’s a bit of arthritis there - that the pain was caused by my kneecaps which are off centre. The bones that surround them aren’t curved enough to keep them in place so they drift off centre or worst case scenario roll out and become dislocated, as happened 14 years ago when I was playing rugby.

Anyway- I’ve been seeing a physiotherapist who’s been massaging and manipulating my knees and surrounding muscles (which apparently works) and she’s also told me to go away and do loads of cycling and swimming as non weight bearing exercises. So for the last couple of weeks I’ve been hitting the exercise bikes at the gym like a woman possessed.

I always feel like I get the breath stuff wrong too. Even in yoga which I've done on and off for about 25 years.

Weightlifting class tonight, I found it hard going at times but I got there.

Are you enjoying it a bit more now, Sal?

I did Body Step Remix 2 today.

My gym membership is going up by another £5 a month from April. I’ve decided it’s still great value if I do 4 classes a week, and then had to cancel today due to snow.

Wednesday/Thursday were rest days and Fitbit has stopped telling me I’m not ready.

Rings and handstands at the gym this morning.

I’ve done LM+ Strength Development #5 instead of the gym this morning.

Last night was Spirit and Pilates
This morning was Pump (or as I initially typed, Pimp) but I had to bail from squats as I started too heavy, had poor form and my lower back was complaining on one side.

I have been to kettlebells. It was nice leaving and it still being light.

Swimming tonight! Not old lady breast stroke don’t get my hair wet swimming but proper up and down in the roped off bit- only did 20 lengths but boy it felt good! And I also did some diving at the end which I haven’t done for years and years. And then sat in the warm baby pool afterwards to recover

I did a LM hybrid workout this morning. It was a mix of pump, step and core.

I’m on a down week this week so a nice downhill reps session! (Yesterday) About 4 miles Inc warm up.

30 min intervals and arms ride today. Cost per use is still painful, but I am really enjoying it.

Strength & conditioning - glute-tastic