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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 le

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: b

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. (in a class setting, Using a floor ladder has provided a great opportunity for people to practice lifting their feet to avoid catching their toes on the rungs - which has carried over into life outside) Ankle movement is often overlooked until it starts to limit us. One mo

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

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 progre

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 stro

Why better movement often comes from using the right effort, not the most effort. and Why trying too hard can hold back progress in exercise and movement 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. That is not the message many of us were taught. In exercise classes, gyms, and even in older physiotherapy settings, effort was often treated as proof of