Modified Pilates plank position showing open shoulders, core engagement, and relaxed hand placement. The plank position is a movement we use frequently in Pilates and often as preparation for movements such as Leg Pull Prone on the Reformer. It may look simple, but it is also one of the easiest positions to perform with unnecessary tension. Before worrying about how long to hold the position or adding progressions, start by finding good alignment. The shoulders should feel supported rather...

Morning light creates a peaceful moment of reflection, movement and quiet body awareness. There is a fascinating idea that the body remembers far more than we realise. We often think of memory as living only in the brain, tucked away in neat little files of names, places and events. But our bodies seem to tell another story. They carry habits, experiences, emotions and reactions that sometimes appear long after the moment itself has passed. You only have to watch someone walk into a room to...

Hand reaching for a foaming bar of soap on a wet shower tray. Most of us pick up a bar of soap without thinking very much about it. We smell it, perhaps admire the packaging, and if it says things like "fresh", "clean", "natural", or "moisturising", we assume we are making a healthy choice. Then you turn the bar over and discover a list of ingredients that looks less like something for your skin and more like the password to a government database. Traditional soap was surprisingly simple. It...