My first Pole Fitness lesson and all the reasons I loved it…

Ok so you may or may not know my gorgeous Sweet Cheeks beauty room is located within Athena Fitness. A gorgeous tall, naturally lit studio that teaches Pole & Aerial Fitness. I watch these girls in absolute awe as I work away and have been itching to take part for ages, but what with pregnancy, work commitments and time, I haven’t had the opportunity to sign up for a course …until today!!

I’m fortunate to be a skinny cow and so I worry a lot about what fitness I do so as not to look like skeletor! I really do concentrate on things that provide me with some time out, work on my core strength, whilst working on all my body and that make me feel positive in myself. Pole does all of that and more. It not only guides us as women to look and feel a little bit sexy about ourselves but it has tons of health benefits too, many of which I didn’t even realise until I started searching the web, they include burning lots of calories, deminishes stress levels, feel more motivated, more flexible and limber, its good for your heart and blood flow and fab for kinaesthetic awareness, balance and centre of gravity (which in the long run could help make me less clumsy!!)

So Faye the owner of Athena Fitness has been training for 8 years and teaching for 7, she knows her stuff and demonstrates each move with calm and clear instruction, as she moves in a fluid like motion around the pole. Today there is me and 5 other ladies working through a selection of moves that all have pretty cool names, although I’m pretty sure I won’t remember them by next week. I know I learnt a lot of spins including the basics, fireman and attitude, a hook spin that went backwards I couldn’t quite master that, and some pretty spins including a frog & kiss (hehe that last bit sounds like a fairy tale!) Faye also made us have a go of climbing the poles (the ones in the studio are pretty epic, full competition poles that reach the very high ceiling!) and that’s when I snapped my first #AthenaPoleSelfie although I couldn’t grip with my thighs and failed miserably attempting the crucifix move that involved NO HANDS!

I’m buzzing from today’s class, I didn’t feel an idiot even when I couldn’t do bits, the other girls there all of different levels were so supportive and Faye on hand to advise me of the easiest and least painful ways of accomplishing each move. I honestly can’t wait for next week, maybe ill do you all a little update at the end of my course.

If you are reading this because you are thinking of trying pole, or coming down to Athena, do it! I promise you won’t regret it, I’m hugely conscious of my size (everyone feels comfortable digging out a skinny person) and today it didn’t even matter! I haven’t stopped smiling, I feel stretched, I’m pushing my body to be its best, I’m comfortable in me and it just makes me feel happy, whatever your size pole can make you feel fabulous and not more so then with the delightful teachers and members of Athena Fitness.

Catching up with Faye after I asked her what she loved most and what surprises people most about the sport? Her reply was “I love to see people fall in love with it, the pride when they master a move they have been working on for so long is always so rewarding for me as an instructor and I think what surprises people most is how much they like it, the confidence they gain on a personal level and how addictive it becomes.”

Keep up to date with Athena Fitness, free taster days they hold, demos, videos, pics plus all the amazing membership and packages through their website, Facebook Page and if Faye ever finds the log in details Twitter! Hehe

The next lot if courses start mid November why not come join in?

xoxo

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June Brazil Birchbox

A bit late, I know, I know. But it’s here none the less, infact the next few days your probably be overwhelmed with blogs as all I want to do is write at the moment, whether it be journalling, poetry, features or blogging!
I loved every part of the presentation and brightness that filled my June Birchbox as soon as I opened the box to the green and yellow bag, I was happy.  Plus the added touch of my free Birchbox keyring and of course the gorgeous mini mag included.

I found most of the products of the usual exceptional standard, although the shades picked for me in this box probably wouldn’t have been my first selection. I have tried to review each product whilst thinking of all the senses and the nature in which we use beauty products daily, plus the results.

OPI Brazil Nail Lacquer
May as well keep it short and sweet to begin with I use OPI in my Sweet Cheeks Beauty Room, I love them, have since I was a teen and I waffle on about them a lot! This colour however does not do it for me, it doesn’t make me think of Brazil just makes my nails feel rather foreign to me! Not a me shade at all. Shade AmazON AmazOFF

Beauty Blender
I love it because it’s pink and it does also do an awesome job at applying and blending foundation, it works really well my only downside to this product is how much of my foundation it seemed to absorb 😦

In this photo the middle pic on the right is my before.. Last couple of days I have been using the facial moisturiser Embryolisse Lait-creme concentre included, it’s rich without leaving my skin oily, it leaves me with a calm even tone and it really hydrates the areas that are crying out for some thirst quenching moisturiser.

Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstick
With the key ingredient argon oil moisturising lips with its sheer non drying lipstick that leaves lips feeling silky smooth. Colour, Maron Glace is not as dark as it appears once applied.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion
I liked this, it’s had a clean fresh lemony fragrance perfect for the hot summer days, with added she’s butter olive and avocado oils for really soft, glowing and radiant skin

I subscribe and review each month as I said I have loads coming up including July GlossyBox, My First Pretty Pink GlossyBox in June and The July Stars & Stripes GlossyBox.

Don’t forget if you decide to sign up because of one of my blogs, i’d love you to use one of my links I include, it means I get points and to indulge you all more with more reviews tried and tested. As always comment, like and share just let me know your out there.
xoxo

Birchbox May Products for in the Shower!

Ok so I told you here I was going to pamper myself using my delightful treats from Mays Birchbox …. Well I did and then I used them some more and then squeezed the last possible drops and product out of each little tube.

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES
Revive Morning Bath & Shower Gel

Oh my goodness I don’t think I have ever fallen in love with a product as quickly as I did this. For a tiny bottle it packed so much fragrance the moment I removed the lid, the oil fragranced my body and really did lift and revive! With blends of rosemary, juniper and grapefruit it’s specially blended to invigorate your mind and body, getting your day off to the right start.

It moved over my skin leaving it feeling nourished and smooth and the results remained long after the shower and into the day. There were clear visible benefits too, my skin had a subtle luminosity and glow without any greasy feeling, it looked refreshed and luminous.
Oh my god just talking to you about this product makes me fall in love all over again and more than upset I have run out!

BEAUTY PROTECTOR BIRCHBOX EXCLUSIVE! 
Protect & Condition Shampoo & Conditioner

Ok, so the day before I tried this luscious product I had bleach foils in my hair and even though my hairdresser at Jaxx is one of the best around and truly knows my hair and so mixes colours accordingly it does still take it’s toll and I’m no cheap skate when it comes to hair products to look after my locks!
Having used this shampoo and conditioner for 10 days now, washing every 2 days my hair has stayed clean, silky and feeling strong. My hair brush doesn’t feel like it’s tearing through my fine tresses plus it’s easy to style and add volume. With a UV protection, on the days unlike today when there has been sunshine I know my hair has been looked after and colour protected.
Plus it smells yummy too!

LIZ EARLE
Cleanse & Polish

So I don’t cleanse in the shower,  I wait until I have panda eyes after I have jumped out, then cleanse my face.  This cleanser is amazing for that final refreshed and ready to go feeling. This is a product I have mentioned before that to me is the benchmark of what all cleansers are trying to achieve, it is multi award winning (over 100!) and deservedly so.

Even though I have a travel size, in a tube it’s beautiful botanical blend in a creamy formula would be dispensed from the pump of the bottle to just the perfect amount. With water it lathers onto skin starting the first phase of the cleansing routine removing all traces of make up, daily build up and even my panda eyes! Then the second phase using the muslin cloth to gently cleanse that bit deeper removing any remains impurities or flakes and leaving that really squeaky clean new skin feel, it’s beautiful everytime!

Ok I’m off to indulge again, writing all this has made me need to!!

Don’t forget these products are only a snippet of what was contained in my May Birchbox did you see my Soigne nail polish review? You can subscribe too, just £10+p&p per month here’s the link we both earn points if you do we can spend them on more indulgent beauty treats!

xoxo

Motivational Mondays Leading the Way

Okay so this Monday I’m focusing on how we inspire others, I spent last week housebound because my 6 year old had chicken pox. I did suffer a bit of cabin fever but overall enjoyed the time I got to spend with my boys and I noticed how much what I do inspires my eldest, Finley.

I have been planning how I will return to work and some new ventures I will be taking part in, its meant some time while the baby was snoozing working away in the sunshine at the table in the conservatory and it made me smile how much my son wanted to be sat colouring in or working away next to me. You see Finley doesn’t like writing or colouring much and his fine motor skills are below what’s expected in school, but what I love is when you spark a passion or interest in Finley he will try his hardest to draw or write about it.

We don’t just influence the young around us, this last week I have noticed how my business and what I do inspires others including people older than me, this makes me feel fabulous its great to spark off someone else’s passion. So this week thinks about your actions and how you may be inspiring those around you without even knowing it or intending to. Try and keep your thoughts and actions positive and have a fabulous week.
xoxo