Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol

I have been doing yoga with Zoe Harris for approx 3 years. The difference it has made to me and my general health is amazing. Zoe is a passionate and professional teacher and her classes are fun. During lockdown Zoe brought &#8216;normality&#8217; with her zoom classes and for this I for one am grateful especially in such turbulent times. Zoe is an inspiration.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“Slow and steady wins the race”, Leanne Smith, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://leanwithleanne.com" target="_blank">Lean with Leanne</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/12/leanne-brierton.jpg" alt="fitness" class="wp-image-28140" /></figure>



1/ Set realistic goals: remember slow and steady wins the race. You 
don’t need to try and lose a stone in a week. The true path to 
sustainable change is to set goals that are achievable and create habits
 that you can maintain forever. 



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>Don’t
 restrict yourself: You don’t need to give up everything enjoyable in 
life to get great results. It’s all about balance, especially with your 
nutrition. </blockquote></figure>



2/ Don’t just focus on your bodyweight, it can be really rewarding to
 set new challenges based on performance such as running your first 5K.



3/ To lose weight, you must be consistently in a calorie deficit 
(eating less calories than you burn) but that doesn’t mean you have to 
live on salads and water. Be flexible and enjoy the finer things in 
moderation and still lose weight by tracking your calories with the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://leanwithleanne.com/pages/calorie-calculator" target="_blank">Lean with Leanne Calorie Calculator</a> which helps you measure your daily calorie intake to ensure you’re in a deficit while still getting results.



4/If you want, I can handle the numbers for you. Simply follow the 
link above, fill out the form and it will tell you exactly how many 
calories you should be consuming for your goals. You can also get a free
 trial at Winners 2000 Fitness including a free Gym program when you 
sign up! And check out my <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/leanwithleanne/?hl=en" target="_blank">Lean with Leanne instagram</a> to see the amazing results you can achieve.



Leanne is a brilliant transformation coach and personal trainer, based at Winners 2000 in Paignton, who runs her 8 Week Challenge programme with proven success in helping women get fit, and lose weight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“Have a mindset of consistency”, Sarah Danning, <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/physically-fabulous-fitness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physically Fabulous</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/physically-fabulous-9.jpg" alt="fitness" class="wp-image-30282" /></figure>



5/Imagine you’ve had a six month holiday and have to start over. Take
 baby steps. Mark up a calendar with a twenty-minute exercise of say, a 
brisk walk, gentle yoga or a gentle stretch, to do five days a week or 
every other day. 



6/If you’re going to walk, walk with purpose: stride out, whatever 
you do, do it well but keep it short. Half fill a water bottle to take 
on a walk with slices of lemon diffusing as you go and sip don’t gulp. 
After week 1, you’ll want to increase the time and intensity and before 
you know it, you’ll be creating a habit. 



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>Have
 a mindset of consistency. This will win the day before you even start 
and stick at it for two weeks before you even thinking of quitting, if 
indeed you do!</blockquote></figure>



7/With food: gently start to make reductions on all the things you’ve
 gone nuts on and cut back or drop alcohol for at least 2 weeks.&nbsp;The 
body breaks down alcohol before fat which is why, if you stop drinking 
for two weeks, your body can get to work on excess fat as alcohol is no 
longer in the way.&nbsp;



8/Increase your veg intake and cut back on all the usual baddies, 
like crisps, biscuits, cake, general junk in the diet. We all know what 
they are! And then &nbsp; da’ nah – bye-bye lockdown body and hello, healthier, stronger you.



Sarah is an inspiring level 3 fitness trainer who runs 
fitness, dance and cardio classes in the Plymouth and South Hams, and a 
Tuesday morning beach workout at Wembury beach. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“Listen to your body”, Zoë Harris, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://jordanscourtyard.co.uk/wellness-and-yoga/yoga-barn-somerset/" target="_blank">Yoga Barn</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/jordans-fitness.jpg" alt="fitness" class="wp-image-32541" /></figure>



9/If you haven’t exercised for a while, or you’re new to a class, 
it’s tempting to really go for it, get carried away with the moment and 
not pay attention to what you’re doing.&nbsp; Instead move mindfully – don’t 
push yourself so hard you force your body beyond its limitations. 



10/Practice patience, listen to your body as you move smoothly into a pose and find your edge to get that delicious stretch.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>Don’t
 compare or compete – we’re all unique and have poses we can naturally 
do well and others that will always be difficult. Judging yourself 
because your pose looks different from the person on the mat next to you
 doesn’t help. </blockquote></figure>



11/Be kind to yourself and focus on achieving the best you can on the day.&nbsp; Most importantly enjoy the moment.



Zoë Harris&nbsp;is a yoga therapist and teacher at the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://jordanscourtyard.co.uk/wellness-and-yoga/yoga-barn-somerset/" target="_blank">Yoga Barn</a>, a tranquil dedicated space for fitness and wellbeing classes in a converted farm building with a heated floor – and very nice café across the way – at&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://jordanscourtyard.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jordans Courtyard</a>, near Ilminster.

10 tips to kickstart your fitness

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