Exhale Pilates London has some of the best state of the art Pilates equipment I’ve come across and I’ve seen and tried a few! I really enjoy working out there. The teachers are great especially the owner Gaby. She is always so enthusiastic and dedicated ready to kick you into shape. Since I started working out at Exhale Pilates friends have seen my body transform and want in on some of Gaby’s Magic. I decided to buddy train with one of my best friends (primarily to show off my new found Pilates moves). Our session was immense fun but we still worked out harder because neither of us wanted to be the weak one. Gaby is very hands on, and always makes sure you are in the correct position. The hour flew by and we both came out of the session feeling amazing walking taller and with abs of steel. Until next time. xx
Tag: healthy
Mothers that Rock by Oreke
Jordan P Martin rocks, she is a mother of two, a writer and an amazing Yoga teacher
What is Your View on Motherhood?
Somehow I am learning each and every day how to be a mother! I have a seven-year-old son and a six-month-old baby daughter – and it is tough physically, emotionally and mentally hence the reason why it took me six and a half years to do it again… Oh and boy the pregnancies and experiences were different… My son changed my world, he was a shining light in my life and he really did teach me the meaning of true love, and I see that same love each time he and my daughter look into each other’s eyes, and for a moment the masses of washing and the copious amounts of ironing, the sleep deprivation, the school stories of name calling, the homework, the bottle making, and the rest… well all of that vanishes because I feel a wonderful woman for having two wonderful children in my life. Those little moments are ‘motherhood’ to me.
My overall view on motherhood from my experiences is that it is challenging and it can test your sanity, but it is the purest most magical single greatest thing to do, because it puts perspective on so many things that I used to consider to be important prior to being a mum… Remember this is my opinion, because motherhood isn’t for everybody, it calls for a whole new level of patience, compassion, selflessness, self-awareness and masses of love and understanding… And all of these don’t come bottled or gifted after you squeeze the baby out – you have to focus really hard sometimes to summon these qualities when you are super tired or haven’t had a second to yourself to shower, to eat or even to pee… And Just because we can create something, doesn’t mean we have to control it, and so with my daily learning I try my best to teach them rather than preach to my children, so that hopefully they will grow up with the tools to be grounded adults with the ability to be kind and to love, and to receive kindness and love too… and I believe that this grounding comes from their childhood. So yes, motherhood is far from easy, and I refuse to hold onto any so-called notion of ‘perfect mothering’, because like most mothers I constantly question if I am doing it ‘right’, and as long as I care for and nurture them, and listen to them, and manage to brush my teeth and sometimes wash my hair, then I guess I am doing fine.
What is the Best Advice You have Received on Parenting?
I have had a close friend recently remind me that children are humans in their own right and even if they are your own children, they will show traits that you may not always like or feel comfortable with, but that we do not create them to be like us, or to live our lives through theirs. So I guess what I took from that is just as there is no such notion as ‘perfect mothering/parenting,’ there is no such thing as a perfect child, because they are learning just like we are. They will make mistakes, and they will be cheeky or naughty at times, but it is our job to listen and guide, and provide explanations and reasoning for our reactions, so they can process things in their own time. They are allowed to get angry and sad and excited just like we are. And they need to learn from their own experiences.
The philosophies of yoga have also taught me a lot about parenting that seems to work for my family and I.
What Are Your Kids’ Favourite Food?
My son loves seafood – loves it! And vegetables, he has always been an amazing eater and tries most things unless he doesn’t like the consistency. My daughter has only just gone on to formula a month and a half ago, so she loves milk hahahehe… but she enjoys her puréed sweet potato and seems happy to try most fruit and veg, because she is being all ‘grown up’ eating ‘real’/solid food.
What is Your Favourite Meal to Cook For the Family?
Okay – confession ALERT! I am not the household cook any more… Phew! Glad I got that off of my breasting-feeding-to-two-kids chest… My husband is a great chef… he enjoys it and my son cooks with him. We eat meals made from scratch… sauces and even homemade pasta if we have time. I do have a couple of meals I cook with my son… our fav is fish pie, and it is super easy! We add seafood too as he loves it. We also like avocado chocolate moose, and honey and banana muffins.
What Are the Kids’ Favorite Toys?
My son loves anything that is creative – he creates things from rubbish, often to my dismay – “PUT IT BACK IN THE BIN!” – now he opts for the recycle – phew! And we have come to an understanding that we keep his creations for a short while, take a photo and then return them back to the recycle…
We are just about to do a huge move back from Australia to the UK and he has packed his own toy bag… it has activity and puzzle books, and some Trashies, and his absolute fav things are books about gross facts, or wildlife, and he has added chess too. He loves board games.
My daughter generally ignores her plethora of soft toys, and heads for my son’s board games… Which, he (luckily) thinks is funny and tells me that he is looking forward to teaching her the word ‘poop’ so they can play Scrabble… delightful… I shall cross that bridge when it comes and can only hope that the word choice doesn’t progress… You see LEARNING each day.
Until next time xx
Mums that rock by Oreke xx
Cressida Hilken mama of Jasper and bump. We love Cressida because she is one of the most honest and witty individuals we know.
Your view on motherhood? This is one seriously broad subject but in short my view is it is the most beautiful, challenging and extraordinary experience one can have. It changes ones perspective on life in a matter of minutes and renders you deeply in love with a tiny being forever and ever…even I expect when they are a not such tiny beings! Being a mother is a huge responsibility and something that changes you innately.
Best advice you have received on parenting? Every child is different.
What’s jasper’s favourite food? Pasta! And large tomatoes eaten like apples..this started in Italy and is rather messy but such fun!
What’s your favourite meal to cook for your family? I love doing my slag bol. Everyone is satisfied and there are always requests for ‘more please’!
What’s jasper’s favourite toy? Jasper loves the colander and also our keys. Neither of which are ‘toys’ of course and one when it gets lost is rather debilitating! Xx
Gluten free does not necessarily mean healthy by Oreke xx
We strive to eat a gluten free diet at home mainly because my youngest son has a nasty reaction to gluten, in fact he is severely allergic to a lot of things.
Foods containing gluten are typically the foods associated with weight gain and other dietary diseases . If you bake a cake using gluten free flour but use the same amount of sugar and fat as you would a regular cake then that cake is still unhealthy. A gluten free diet will only be healthy if you cut out on refined sugars and bad fats.
It is great that there is more choice available to those that are on a gluten free diet but it is important to remember that gluten free does not always mean healthy. Until next time xx
PS I enjoyed the free’d bread xx
Lifebox by Oreke xx
I can’t rave enough about Lifebox, if you are like me and you love a snack then Lifebox is your dream come true. Imagine a little white box delivered to you monthly or as needed filled with delicious and healthy superfood snacks. Each snack in the Lifebox is highly nutritious and the boys and me devoured our first Lifebox over the bank holiday with immense pleasure, even superman who is super fussy with healthy food and prefers to eat in places I am too ashamed to name enjoyed everything in the Lifebox. Until next time www.lifeboxfood.com