A little bit about me…

I have worked in the health and wellness sector for 15 years in Australia and London as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in the preventive, rehabilitation and corporate health sectors. During this time I have the supported the healthy, injured, chronically, mentally and terminally unwell populations. I feel both immensely grateful and fortunate to have worked and studied alongside extremely experienced, passionate and knowledgeable health practitioners leading the way in their specialised fields.

You may be scratching your head…..so what does an Accredited Exercise Physiologist actually do? A question I am commonly asked. No we are not physiotherapists and no we are not personal trainers. We are university qualified allied health professionals equipped with the competency to support, educate and deliver safe and effective evidence based clinical exercise interventions to people at risk of developing, or whom have existing medical conditions, injuries or disabilities. Still unsure, Exercise Right Australia articulates it well.

What I have come to realise over the years is that clients rarely present with one acute problem. Rather they present with a combination of conditions and imbalances (whether they realise it or not), both physical and mental. To put it succinctly we humans are complex creatures. Health is not just physical but rather an interaction of various facets of one’s life.

For example, living with pain, a chronic condition, disability or illness, expands way outside of the physical and can impact our relationship with oneself, others, society and employment. This can can leave us stuck in a cycle of fear and worry as we try to readjust and recreate our perception of what it means to be ‘me’.

I have been a devoted yogi for about 10 years. The story of how I also became a yoga teacher is another blog post altogether. Why do I love yoga? Firstly, I love all things movement. Secondly, I am fascinated with the architecture of the human body and last but not least, I am intrigued by the power of the mind.

How can yoga + mindfulness compliment modern exercise science?

Yoga is both a physical and mental practice that acknowledges health in its entirety. In fact, the meaning of yoga is union- the body, the breath and the mind. The physical benefits of yoga and exercise in general are widely accepted and understood- increased mobility, improved balance and greater strength to name a few. A mindful approach to therapy places as much emphasis on the mind and the breath as it does on physical movement.

The mind is a powerful instrument and I am sure we can all agree that it can be as unhelpful, as it can be helpful to our well-being. Through greater awareness and connection between the mind, body and breath, we can heighten mental clarity, focus and develop a greater understanding of our strengths and limitations. These are life-long behavioural skills which can improve coping mechanisms, enhance self-efficacy and assist us to move towards better health regardless of our age or health status.

Mindfulness in Movement was founded with the vision to:

• combine mindfulness and movement to optimise therapeutic change and well-being;

• empower individuals and the community to enhance their well-being, through evidence based exercise physiology, mindfulness and specialised health education and support;

• make yoga accessible to people of all abilities and health status;

• demystify the practice of yoga (for those of you that think it is all about tights, touching your toes and standing on your head);

• build an inclusive and supportive community of people of all ages and health status who inspire and support one another to enhance their well-being.

I hope that this blog serves as a means to connect, inspire and educate. I welcome any questions, thoughts and comments.

I would love to hear from you and if there is anything particular you would like to know about how Mindfulness In Movement can assist you to make sustained health behaviour change, manage your condition or disability long term and move towards better health. Please connect with me.

The benefits of Mindfulness In Movement are for everyone.