Since 2004, the phenomenon that is ‘parkrun’ has been spreading across the country: volunteer-led, free-for-all 5K runs, every week, on a Saturday morning. Edinburgh of… Read More »Fitness: 5 Reasons You Should Try Parkrun
Last May, my beautiful friend Jen shared the story of how her son Finlay died suddenly from Meningitis. Since then, Jen (and a team of supporters)… Read More »10 Every Day Self-Care Tips
In the world of yoga and yoga philosophy there are the Yamas and Niyamas found in the Yoga Sutras. For a yoga practitioner these come… Read More »The Yoga Series: Make Everyday Happy
With cold days well and truly arriving, it’s tempting to just shut out the weather, whop the heating up and consume pints of hot chocolate.… Read More »6 Ways to Boost Your Immune System
There is no denying that dark evenings are closing in fast and with that, motivation for outside exercise is waning. The idea of going for… Read More »4 YouTube Fitness Videos to Inspire
I obviously spend a lot of time on social media. It’s kind of my job as a blogger – but that’s not to say that it… Read More »Social Media: Have We Reached Breaking Point?
The beginning of October marked two years since I started Edinburgh with kids. Although I had a slight hiatus in the first year, I’m proud… Read More »10 Things I’ve Learnt About Blogging
Life sometimes feels insanely busy. Work is demanding and I always seem to have a never-ending ‘to do’ list. I think all parents with small children must be in a similar boat. Once everything is ‘done’ the priority really is spending time with the kids but should we find time to workout?
Somehow going to the gym or making time for a run seems lower down on the agenda. It somehow seems selfish to be doing something that is a solo activity. That doesn’t involve the children or entertain them in any way.
Whilst, there’s obviously ‘active’ things we can do together. Realistically swimming with the kids is NOT the same as doing laps for half an hour. Thomas is undoubtably heavy but lifting him in the air does NOT replace a kettle bell session. So why make time?Read More »Finding Time to Workout
Next week is the first anniversary of my Dad’s death. It still feels very surreal to be writing that as in some small part of my brain, I still think he’s going to walk through the door tomorrow. That doesn’t make any sense but I think my survival mechanism is to just think that he’s on holiday or it’s just been too long between visits. Despite the fact that the family home has been sold and things have moved on, I can still picture stepping in the door and spying him asleep on the couch.
At the time of his death, I remember thinking that the sympathy cards had it wrong when they said ‘sorry for your loss’. I was so lucky to have him as my Dad that I couldn’t really feel like I had ‘lost’ anything. Even though he left far too early, I could only think I had gained by having him in my life.Read More »Light in the Darkness – find the positive
Finding time to workout with small children around can be a nightmare. When an old friend of mine got in touch asking for tips to get fitter, a familiar tale transpired: finding time to go to the gym or to the pool is near impossible. Whilst she could in theory try for 10 minutes of yoga at home, the boys made this difficult – anyone with experience of kids could picture the scene: ‘What are you doing Mummy?’ ‘Get off the floor!’ ‘I NEED you now!’
Obvious solutions came to mind such as getting out walking but as I’ve already mentioned, walking with toddlers who are past the pram stage can be difficult. Again, in theory you could get the toddlers to use a scooter or balance bike if they’re at that stage to try and increase the speed, but as I know from my own daughter that is easier said than done. Katie can go at a fantastic speed on her micro scooter but can also, with no prior indication, just choose to stop and announce she wants to walk instead etc. Hardly ideal for an aerobic work out is it?
I decided to raise the problem with Susan (from Streamline Personal Training) who I knew had experience of running fitness sessions where Mums had brought toddlers along. She reminded me of something key: toddlers love to copy. Our solution has been to develop a 15 minute workout that two lively toddlers can also do:
Read More »Working Out with a Toddler