<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[My Site 1]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Site 1]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:24:02 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.thebalancementor.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The STEPS Method: A Simple Way to Rebuild Strength, Balance, and Confidence]]></title><description><![CDATA[The STEPS Method is a simple, progressive way of rebuilding strength, balance, and confidence safely and purposefully. It focuses on safety, training balance as a skill, building everyday strength, progressing sensibly, and knowing how to bounce back when life is not perfect. When people think about strength and balance exercise, they often imagine one of two things. Either something very gentle that does not really build enough, or something too demanding to feel safe or realistic. I do not...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/the-steps-method-a-simple-way-to-rebuild-strength-balance-and-confidence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebae3981e17196bd251929</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:27:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_ba62d63a899542ac98187496a915b8bc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_941,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Find the Right effort Level for Exercise]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finding the right level of exercise is not about pushing as hard as possible. It is about choosing an effort that allows you to breathe, move well, stay in control, and build progress safely over time. One of the most important parts of exercise is getting the effort level right. Too easy, and the body is not asked to adapt. Too hard, and quality starts to disappear. That is where many people come unstuck. They assume exercise only “counts” if it feels very hard. Or they try to match what...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/how-to-find-the-right-level-of-exercise</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb791b8d49bd7442f1892d</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:19:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_770f17cb133f47788db1bd7741056a93~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Does “Stable Medical Conditions” Mean?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many people with long-term conditions can benefit from a specialist strength and balance programme. The important question is not whether someone is problem-free, but whether their condition is stable, suitable, and safe for the right level of exercise. Referral to a community-based class, rather than a hospital-based service, usually requires certain criteria to be met. One of those is often described as "stable medical conditions". That phrase can sound more daunting than it needs to....]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/what-does-stable-medical-conditions-mean</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb8ff981e17196bd24cc66</guid><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_e4f1e6aa849a4518b3a777948aedd64a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When People Start Working With Their Bodies Again]]></title><description><![CDATA[A powerful shift happens when people stop seeing the body only in terms of what has become harder, and begin to experience it as something still responsive and worth working with. That growing understanding builds confidence as well as strength. There is a moment I never tire of seeing: when someone begins to notice their body in terms of curiosity and wonder, through the lens of something still accessible, still responsive, and even fun to work with. I love helping people rediscover that....]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/when-people-start-working-with-their-bodies-again</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb927268a38bf40d10f389</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_15794fdcabe54225b2e24e1d63f42d5f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I Am Taking This Online]]></title><description><![CDATA[Local services can change, travel is not always easy, and the right class is not always nearby. That is why I am building an online, progressive FaME-based strength and balance programme: a structured, specialist course designed to improve strength, balance, confidence, and everyday function over time. It is becoming increasingly clear that access to good support cannot always depend on local provision alone. Funding can shift, classes can stop, and support that once felt secure may no longer...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/why-i-am-taking-this-online</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb9e1de5d3a4f23fbfef3f</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_0cf1419a86a24fdc923d9a0c4bf3d511~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_941,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Soft Signs That This Is Not Easy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hands gripping, a tense face, or holding the breath are often quiet signs that an exercise is more demanding than it looks. Noticing them early allows you to adjust and improve the quality of movement. Not all effort is obvious. Sometimes the body gives quieter clues that something is more difficult than it looks. These are known as soft signs. They often show up as: hands gripping or fingers tightening a “concentration face” — jaw set, lips pressed, brow furrowed breath holding, or breathing...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/the-soft-signs-that-this-is-not-easy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebce8a81e17196bd256c23</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_c90eeae2b0bf43069d43b21c49bdf7f1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Improvement Often Lives Just Beyond “Not Quite Right Yet”]]></title><description><![CDATA[Confidence does not only come from everything going smoothly. Often it grows when the body meets a wobble, reacts well, and recovers - showing us that steadiness is not perfection, but the ability to respond and reorganise. Today gave a very good example of that. A participant was doing what I call seesaws (an advanced exercise) — balancing face down over a large gym ball, with the ball under the pelvis, hands on the floor, and the legs extended behind. From there, gentle press-ups lift the...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/improvement-often-lives-just-beyond-not-quite-right-yet</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb94d504fc81dfe25940bc</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_403f52e52be44495825f7ad3e65bd097~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grip Strength: One of the Basics We Overlook]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grip strength supports far more everyday tasks than many people realise, from carrying bags and opening jars to using a rail or getting up from the floor. It is a basic skill, but an important one. A post about grip strength popped up today and reminded me how often we overlook the basics. Grip strength is quietly important in everyday life. It helps with carrying bags, opening jars, using a rail, getting up from the floor, and feeling more secure when using a stick. The list is longer than...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/grip-strength-one-of-the-basics-we-overlook</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebc05e68a38bf40d116835</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_00886725ef8541bf86ffcb164eab63c1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chair-Based Yoga for People Who Sit Too Much]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chair-based movement is not just for people with mobility problems. It can be a practical and effective way for anyone who sits for long periods to move joints, reset posture, breathe better, and build confidence again. Welcome to your chair, because modern life puts many of us there for far too long. Chair-based movement is not only for people with mobility difficulties. It is becoming increasingly relevant for anyone who spends long periods sitting: at work, in the car, at the computer, or...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/chair-based-yoga-for-people-who-sit-too-much</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb886c81e17196bd24ba43</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_9a6e5d69b01344cc8c4efdbefa24a47c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chair-Based Yoga: A Sensible Starting Point for those with Reduced Mobility or Lower Balance Confidence]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chair-based yoga is not a lesser option. For many older adults with stiff joints, reduced mobility, or lower balance confidence, it is a sensible and valuable way to begin moving more comfortably and confidently. Adapted yoga for older adults often begins with something very simple: A chair. If I am honest, I was not always sure about teaching yoga with the chair taking centre stage. But the more I work with people, the clearer it becomes that chair-based movement is not a lesser option. Very...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/chair-based-yoga-a-sensible-starting-point-for-those-with-reduced-mobility-or-lower-balance-confide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb861bb502c05c43b3a1fe</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_2e3d9cd41a5d48a49574ab8527e7cf9e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I Like the Timed Up and Go Test]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Timed Up and Go test may look simple, but it reveals far more than a time score. How someone stands, walks, turns, and sits can provide a useful map to the right exercises and support. Many people get fed up with doing lots of different tests, Quite understandably. They can feel tired before they have even finished, especially if they have recently had a fall, a wobble, or a knock in confidence. And let us be honest, the testing environment itself can feel intimidating: being watched...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/why-i-like-the-timed-up-and-go-test</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb84068d49bd7442f1a6d3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_ac09ff8e5afb44d9bde68dbbc7fc39ef~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Ankle Movement Matters for Preventing Trips]]></title><description><![CDATA[The ability to lift the front of the foot towards the shin helps clear everyday trip hazards such as rugs, thresholds, uneven pavements, and kerbs. It is a small movement, but it can make a real difference. Ankle movement is often overlooked until it starts to limit us. One movement matters especially for preventing trips: the ability to lift the front of the foot up towards the shin. This is called dorsiflexion. That “toes up” movement helps the foot clear everyday hazards such as: rug edges...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/why-ankle-movement-matters-for-preventing-trips</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ebc40504fc81dfe259b7a6</guid><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_4f9e15ed2dfc4f46986e5f5c7a2e3d4f~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Success Is Showing Up and Adjusting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Real success in exercise is not always about pushing harder. Sometimes it is about showing up, adjusting to the day you are having, and leaving with a small win rather than guilt. Today, someone came to class and halfway through I realised they were not engaging as much as usual, either in the exercises or in the chat. Quietly, they told me they had been unwell, had been back to the doctor, and were now on antibiotics for a chest infection. But they still wanted to come. Not to push through,...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/success-is-showing-up-and-adjusting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb815281e17196bd24a892</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_e9c8f52fca7d4041949678f221a2353a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Hidden Benefits of Regular, Consistent Exercise]]></title><description><![CDATA[Real progress does not always come from pushing harder. Often it comes from regular, steady practice at the right level, supported by simple exercises that build strength, confidence, and everyday capability over time. Sometimes the biggest changes come from doing simple things regularly. One of my clients summed it up beautifully: feeling fitter and more confident resting heart rate down from 72 to 66 “I can now walk to town and back” That is a very good reminder that progress does not...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/the-hidden-benefits-of-regular-consistent-exercise</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb7f8068a38bf40d10c516</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_9f2d042a8bb84dde8f92be63e3c38870~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Heavy Baby = Grandparent Strength Training]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grandchildren grow quickly, and so do the physical demands of caring for them. Carrying, lifting, and getting up from the floor all require real strength - especially during the school holidays. I love being a grandmother, but goodness, they get heavy quickly; And can they wiggle! If you do not see them every day, you really notice it. Holding them, carrying them, lifting them in and out of car seats - it is a workout. My daughter-in-law said recently that she feels much stronger now because...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/heavy-baby-grandparent-strength-training</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb7c9fb502c05c43b38959</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_17546fc010f54e65aff1528c7f452535~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are You Push, Push, Pushing?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why trying too hard can hold back progress in exercise and movementW hy trying too hard can hold back progress in Excerpt:Many people approach exercise as if harder is always better. In my experience, better movement often comes from learning, exploring, and using only the effort needed today. There is a habit I see often in exercise classes, in gyms, and years ago in physiotherapy too. It is the habit of trying too hard. Push, push, push. It has to feel hard. “No pain, no gain.” Must do more...]]></description><link>https://www.thebalancementor.com/post/are-you-push-push-pushing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb730db502c05c43b36f0d</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:45:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e47120_d3f22979123443d199b6349affb64ac8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dawn Roe</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>