Stop and reassess

What are you doing for yourself? 

It’s all too easy, particularly in the run up to Christmas to put ourselves at the back of the queue when it comes to priorities - the yoga classes go out of the window, the festive food and drinks flow, sleep is at times just an added bonus, and the stresses of managing a personal life, work life and holding everything together can at times feel too much. 

On top of this, when we’ve finally made it through the stress of Christmas and New Year we’re told we should be hitting the gym, cutting out carbs and making plans to take over the world in 2017. 

So let’s just stop for a minute. Stop and reassess.

When was the last time you had a day for you? A whole day dedicated just to you. Where you weren't thinking about your kids, or partner, or work, or friends, or where you weren’t thinking about fitting in that run before going to a nephew’s birthday party and then rushing round the shops before they closed? The chances are it’ll probably be a while ago. 

We’ve got the perfect way to start your year with some well deserved self-love. What does this mean? It means looking after you so that you can be the best possible version of yourself for 2017. Benefitting not just you, but everyone else around you.

I’ve teamed up with two amazing women, Lucy Faulks, life coach, meditation and mindfulness practitioner and founder of Technotox and Tanja Mrnhaus, leading stylist at IDCouture to put together a day you’ll leave feeling inspired, motivated and a whole lot healthier in body and mind! And we’re not only bringing this day to London, but also to Manchester. 

Reflect, Recharge, Redefine will be held on Saturday 28th January at the Greenhouse in Homerton. A day combining Pilates led by myself, confidence and styling workshops with Tanja, mindfulness meditation and personal goal setting for 2017 with Lucy, vegan cookery, healthy food and drinks provided by CPress all day and the chance to meet some other like minded people.

Reflect, Recentre, Recharge will be held on Sunday 8 January at Yoga Central in Manchester.
A day combining Pilates and a ‘food for mood’ workshop to ensure you’re eating the right foods to maintain optimum health and energy. Mindfulness meditation for stress reduction and a values and meaning workshop to set personal, meaningful goals for 2017, plus healthy food and drinks provided.  Sponsored by Northern Power Women. 

The details

Where? London - The Greenhouse, Homerton. 

Manchester - Manchester Yoga Central 

When? London - Saturday 28th January, 10am - 4.30pm

Manchester - Sunday 8th January 11-4.30pm

Tickets? Are limited so get yours here 

London https://redefine2017.eventbrite.co.uk

Manchester https://recentreandrecharge.eventbrite.co.uk

About the organisers:

Ruth Tongue

One of the Sport Stylist ambassadors, Ruth Tongue is an MSc qualified nutritionist and STOTT Pilates teacher and has been working in health and wellness for over 10 years. She works with athletes, footballers, children and businesses to improve diet and health. As a nutritionist and health expert, Ruth contributes to many national and international publications such as Top Sante magazine, Running Fitness magazine and Women’s Fitness, as well as regularly appearing as a nutrition and health expert for the BBC. Ruth teaches Pilates across London as well as running regular retreats and events in Mallorca, the South of France and most recently Mexico! 

www.ruthtongue.com ruth@ruthtongue.com 

Lucy Faulks

Lucy Faulks is CPCC life coach and member of the ICF, running coaching programmes for both businesses and private clients. She Founded Technotox - A Wellness Centre for the Mind in 2015 and runs workshops, courses and classes on emotional wellbeing and the building blocks of happiness. She is also a mindfulness practitioner and has written articles for Everyday Mindfulness and Mindspace. 

www.lucyfaulks.com | www.technotox.com 

How the body responds to the mind

The body is not stupid - in fact, it's pretty damn clever.

I've been thinking a lot recently about the link between what's going on in our heads and how that manifests itself in our bodies.

This past couple of weeks I've never felt such a strong link between physical and emotional happiness - and it's even made me reassess my whole outlook when it comes to what I'm practising, and preaching.

Over the past week, without going into too much detail, I haven't been the happiest of bunnies - and this has triggered a week long sore throat and lingering cold, a spasmed lower back (that I've never had before), breakouts, dry skin and poor sleep. *Plays small violin*

What's so interesting is the change in these conditions (particularly the pain) when I'm around positive, loving people, or listening to my favourite music (old school garage of course). Yet the increase in pain when I'm alone, feeling sad, or around people giving off negative vibes is way more than just a coincidence.

This is something that was spoken about at a great workshop I went to on Friday night, led by Tanya Goodman Bailey of The Belly Love Method. (Yes it was a wild Friday night out, exploring my digestion!) Tanya highlighted so many interesting links between digestive health and emotions, the management of pain, and simple techniques such as singing and using body scans to reduce and even eliminate pain completely.

While it's nothing new, the idea that your body is simply a reflection of your mental wellbeing, and that we can actually not only create pain, but also eliminate pain with the power of the mind, it's made me even more passionate that when it comes to health promotion if we can address what's going on in our minds, the rest will just follow naturally.

So with that in mind, I'm off to meditate for a few minutes before dinner with some people I love.

Here's to a happy mind in 2016.

Ruth xxx